Larkin Cassidy Solicitors IFC Group 2
All Saints 1-15 Rasharkin 0-5
All Saints had too much knowhow and sharpness for a young and inexperienced Rasharkin in Round 2 of the Larkin Cassidy Solicitors Intermediate Football Championship at Dreen tonight. The visitors opened on the offensive, moving the ball at pace and were 0-2 up inside four minutes through the majestic Paddy McAleer.
The home side had a great opportunity to get right back into contention when referee, Vincent Boyle pointed to the penalty spot after Ryan Lynch was unceremoniously dragged down but Niall Shannon in the visitor’s goal got down to save Andrew Hasson’s spot kick.
Brendan McDonnell for the visitors and Eamon McNeill for the Dreen men exchanged points before Peter ‘Pizza’ McReynolds stroked a ‘45’ confidently between the uprights as the visitors began to take control.
At the other end the usually dependable Eamon McNeill was having a bad night, firing a number of efforts wide of the target before Connell Lemon moved forward to increase the visitors lead to four with a good point in the 13th minute.
Pearse Kelly replaced Conor Doherty in the Rasharkin defence and as the referee called for the water break Caolan Loughran came into the All Saints attack for Rory McVeigh but these changes made little difference to the flow of play.
The home side certainly lacked nothing for effort but were finding it difficult to pierce a well organised All Saints defence with Sean McVeigh breaking up a number of attacks and instigating quick counters which were paying dividends.
On the restart Paddy McAleer stroked over his third followed by his fourth point of the half as the visitors moved six clear and Michael McCarry added another from a side-line free and a difficult angle to leave it 0-8 to 0-1.
Thomas Doherty, who had replaced the injured Andrew Hasson, announced his arrival with a good point and Kavan Keenan for All Saints and Eamon McNeill for Rasharkin exchanged late points to leave it 0-9 to 0-3 at the short whistle.
NO BETTER
It didn’t get any better for the home side on the restart though to their credit they never dropped their head and continued to battle but the visitor’s defence remained rock solid and well organised.
Michael McCarry’s 35 meter free was pushed wide for a ‘45’ with Pizza McReynolds stroking his second award of the night effortlessly between the uprights before Ryan Lynch responded with a point for the home side from a free in the 5th minute.
Lynch fired over a good point from play to cut the gap to five points but any hopes of a revival were soon dismissed as Michael McCarry stroked over a couple of frees at the other end before Caolan Loughran rose to fist home a Conor Stewart delivery and suddenly the visitors lead had been extended to ten points.
The Slemish Park side were now moving the ball around with great confidence and always seemed to have a man free and Ryan Doherty in the St. Mary’s goals had to be sharp and brave to deny Kavan Keenan a second goal.
Both sides emptied their bench at this point but it was All Saints who continued to call the tune with Emmet Killough getting forward for a point which bisected two well struck frees from Michael McCarry to conclude the scoring.
All Saints are at home to St. Teresa’s on Sunday while Rasharkin will be hoping to open their account when they entertain Naomh Padraig Lisburn at Dreen on the same day.
Rasharkin: Ryan Doherty, Conor Doherty, Emmet McFerran, Liam Quigg, Fergus Quigg, Conor Hasson, Tiernan O’Boyle, Jack Quinn, Andrew Hasson, Ruairi O’Boyle, Eamon McNeill, Colm Kennedy, Cathair Henderson, Ryan Lynch, Gerard O’Hagan. Subs: Pearse Kelly for Conor Doherty, Thomas Doherty for Andrew Hasson, Donagh Quigg for Pearse Kelly, Daniel Doherty for Cahair Hernderson
All Saints: Niall Shannon, James Gillan, Peter McNicholl, James McDonnell, Kavan Keenan, Ciaran McGarry, Connell Lemon, Sean McVeigh, Paddy McAleer, Peter McReynolds, Michael McCarry, Emmet Killough, Conor Stewart, Rory McVeigh, Brendan McDonnell. Subs: Caolan Loughran for Rory McVeigh, Matty Downey for Peter McNicholl, Eoin Campbell for Peter McReynolds, Reece O’Mullan for Sean McVeigh
Referee: Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)
