Casement Social Club Junior Hurling Championship
Quarter-Final
Saturday August 31
Rasharkin 0-24 Latharna Óg 0-5
Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr McGinn Park, Ahoghill
Eleven points from Shane ‘Doug’ Hasson, and a man of the match performance from James Scally, was enough to see Rasharkin cruise their way through to the semi-final of the junior hurling championship on Saturday afternoon. The north Antrim men had 19 points to spare over Latharna Óg and despite a spirited start, the Junior B champions lost their way in the second half and ended the contest with 13 men.
After weathering the early Latharna Óg pressure, Rasharkin set about their business and dominated this contest. Shane ‘Doug’ Hasson leading the scoring charts with an impressive return of 11 points over the hour but the half back line of Rasharkin led by Scally was the main difference. Conor Hasson and Tiernan O’Boyle pitched in with four points between them during this contest but their distribution and ability to cut out any Latharna Óg attacks from source ensured Rasharkin could keep the pressure on the Junior B champions.
It was an impressive attacking performance from the Dreen side, 15 of their 24 points coming from play with eight different scorers over the hour. A tireless midfield duo of Emmet McFerran and Donagh Quigg and strong work rate of their half forwards allowed Rasharkin to enjoy a comfortable opener to their championship campaign.
Coming into this contest on the back of their win against All Saints, Latharna Óg would have carried confidence of causing another upset. They opened the scoring in the second minute when Michael Lismore fired over and while Rasharkin were slow in starting, they were more fluent with their use of the sliotar and creating spaces. Three points in as many minutes from Shane Hasson (two frees) gave them a two point lead by the seventh minute and while Brian Quinn reduced the deficit to the minimum in the 12th minute, Rasharkin began to play with more freedom.
Points from Shane Hasson (free), Quigg and Declan McKay preceded a free from Ryan O’Donnell with ten minutes of the half remaining. Another free from Hasson and points from Aiden McKeever and Conor McFerran ensured Rasharkin held a six point lead at the short whistle.
Half time: Rasharkin 0-9 Latharna Óg 0-3
Playing with the substantial wind after the restart, Rasharkin picked up from where they left off when play resumed. Shane Hasson with the first three scores of the half (two frees) before Darren Martin was sent off for a second yellow card in the 41st minute.
Any hopes the Larne side had of making a comeback disintegrated as they lost their discipline in defence. The cards began to flow with referee Fionntan McCotter the busiest man on the pitch for a period in the second half. Hasson duly obliged from placed ball, scoring a further brace of frees along with points from Brendan McMullan and Conor Hasson in answer to two points from Lismore (one free).
Midway through the second half and Rasharkin held a 12 point lead when the red mist descended on Conor Matthews. The Latharna Óg centre half was having a good game but he made a hefty and wreckless challenge on Scally that left referee McCotter no option but award a red card.
The closing stages belonged to the men from Dreen as they went on to take some fine points and making best use of the spaces and numerical advantage they had in their favour. Hasson’s ninth free of the match and 11th point overall preceding white flags from Conor McFerran and Quigg before a trio of points from wing half back Tiernan O’Boyle, the last of which was a delightful side line cut from close to the ’45 ensured Rasharkin made easy progress to the semi final and a meeting with Gort na Mona.
TEAMS
Rasharkin: Brian Og O’Neill; Conor Donaghy, Daniel Doherty, Liam Tunney; James Scally, Conor Hasson, Tiernan O’Boyle; Emmet McFerran, Donagh Quigg; Declan McKay, Aiden McKeever, Shane Hasson; Daniel Hasson, Brendan McMullan, Conor McFerran
Scorers: Shane Hasson 0-11 (9 f’s); Tiernan O’Boyle 0-3; Donagh Quigg 0-3; Declan McKay 0-2; Conor McFerran 0-2; Conor Hasson 0-1; Aiden McKeever 0-1; Brendan McMullan 0-1
Latharna Óg: Niall McGoldrick; Conor Barkley, Barry Pettigrew, Darren Martin; Chrissy Milliken, Conor Matthews, Ryan O’Donnell; Caolan Shields, Phil McKendry; Michael Lismore, Brian Quinn, David Hegarty; Gary Bergin, Anthony O’Neill, Brian Rogan.
Scorers: Michael Lismore 0-3 (1f); Ryan O’Donnell 0-1 (1f); Brian Quinn 0-1
Referee: Fiontann McCotter (Sarsfields)
