Division Two/Three Promotion-Relegation Play off (round two)
St Mary’s Rasharkin 2-12 Kickham’s Ardoyne 2-11
(Ardoyne conclude with an aggregate total of 6-27 to 3-25)
Photographs courtesy of Brian McKee
Kickham’s Ardoyne will take their place in the second grade in 2020 after gaining the verdict over Rasharkin on an aggregate scoreline, although the St Mary’s men did gain the verdict in the second leg in a lively encounter in Toome on Wednesday evening.
The North Belfast men gained a whopping twelve point advantage in the opening leg at Whitehill and entering the second phase it ensured they stared as short priced favourites in Wednesday night’s game.
Rasharkin performed much better than they did seven days ago and although they had a mountain to climb they gave it a real lash without ever looking like getting into contention.
Ardoyne took a time to settle, as the Rasharkin men stepped lively away from the start traps and had earned an early 0-04 to 0-01 advantage, but a Gary Mc Kernan goal saw the city men close the gap and at the break they had earned a slender one point advantage.
Rasharkin continued to ask questions of the Kickham’s in the second half and although a 50th minute Ryan Lynch goal offered hope it was snuffed out within a couple of minutes when Kevin Lynch replied in kind at the other end.
The odds were much against Rasharkin as they started the second leg of their promotion/relegation play-off a dozen points in arrears but the Dreen residents underlined positive intentions at the outset and had nipped away into a 0-04 to 0-01 advantage by the end of the 7th minute.
Conor Mc Ferran raised three early white flags and Shane Hasson added another with Jim Og McAuley opening the Ardoyne account.
Rasharkin seemed in business in the opening minutes but as they conspired to miss a couple more openings to increase advantage Ardoyne settled to the task on hand and when Pearce Marley’s clearance was claimed by Aiden Mc Neill the full forward slipped the leather away to Kevin Mc Kernan to despatch to the net.
Ardoyne were level and moved in front by the 20th minute as Cormac Mullan and Jim Mc Auley raised a couple of white flags.
Wing half forward Mullan followed with another couple of points, both delivered in style to see Ardoyne three points ahead, but he was shown red after an altercation in the latter stages of the half with Rasharkin’s Brendan Etherson accompanying him to the side-line.
After the dust settled Rasharkin strode forward to gain parity when Shane Hasson grabbed An Eamon McNeill cross to fire to the back of the net and when Conor Mc Ferran followed with a point they were back in front.
Ardoyne responded in the closing minutes and a couple of late scores saw them at 1-06 to 1-05 at the short whistle.
The North Belfast side extended their advantage with a point from wing half back Padraig Lynch within a minute of the restart but the Rasharkin men went back ahead by the 38th minute as Thomas Doherty, Ryan Lynch, and Conor Mc Ferran followed up with points apiece.
Little separated the sides but Ardoyne were in the driver’s seat with such a healthy advantage from the opening leg as Eamon Mc Neill’s 55th cross opened the way for Ryan Lynch to add a second goal to move Rasharkin 2-11 to 1-1O ahead’
The Kickham’s were quick to reply as mid-fielder Kevin Lynch raced in from the left to finish to the net at the other end with replacement Kevin Mc Laughlin following with a point.
Rasharkin finished with a late Shane Hasson 62nd minute point to gain the verdict on the night but its Ardoyne who will play their football in division 2 next year with Rasharkin relegated to division 3.
Ardoyne: Patrick Mc Cullough, Niall Bradley, Sean Joe Rooney, Pearce Marley, Padraig Lynch, Joe Mc Neill, Conor Carter, Kevin Lynch (1-01), Declan Mc Cormack, Cormac Mullan (0-03), Gary Mc Kernan (1-00), Jim og Mc Auley (0-02), Conor Mc Dowell, Aiden Mc Neill (0-01), Conor Mc Laughlin
Subs
Kevin Mc Laughlin (0-02) for D Mc Cormack
Jim Mc Auley for C Mc Dowell
Keelan Mc Callan for J Mc Auley
Rasharkin: Andrew Hasson, Dara Quigg (0-01), Emmett Mc Ferran, Fergas Quigg, Pearce Kelly, Conor Hasson, Shane Hasson (1-02), Brendan Etherson, Thomas Mc Mullan, Brian og O’ Neill (0-01), Thomas Doherty (0-01), Jack Quinn, Conor Mc Ferran (0-05), Ryan Lynch (1-00), Eamon Mc Neill (0-02)
Subs
G o’ Hagan for F Quigg
Conor Kennedy for P Kelly
Referee E Mc Auley (Erin’s Own)
