Junior Camogie quarter-final
St Mary’s Rasharkin 2-09 St John’s 3-12
St. John’s emerged victorious over St. Mary’s Rasharkin in this Junior Camogie quarter-final played in poor weather conditions tonight. Both sides played their part in making this an entertaining contest with Aisling Hawkins proving the difference between the sides in the end.
Hawkin’s gave an exhibition of point taking in the difficult conditions with the St. John’s sharp shooter scoring 0-6 from play and a further 0-5 from placed balls to lead her side to a place in the semi-final.
Dohnall Nugent’s side took the lead through a Hannagh McGuigan point in the third minute and were never headed though the girls from Dreen kept in touch throughout the first half and were still in contention at half time when they trailed by only three points.
McGuigan’s opening score brought a reply from Amy McMullan from a 5th minute free but St. John’s hit the front for the second time when Faoileann Leydon rattled the Rasharkin net with 9 minutes on the clock.
Back came St. Mary’s and points from Jade Henry, Amy McMullan and Kate McFerran had the sides level by the first water break and Damian McFerran’s battling side appeared to be getting on top.
As so often happens after the water break, the momentum swung back in favour of the Belfast girls with Aishling Hawkins getting her first point of the evening and when SJ McGuigan followed with a goal St. John’s had moved four clear.
The South West side once again found a response however, hitting the next three points through Kate McFerran, Jade Henry and Amy McMullan to leave just one it again and at this stage there was little between the sides.
The final two scores of the opening half fell to the excellent Aishling Hawkins however as she pointed a free and followed with another from play to mover her side three in front at the break.
A Bronagh McFerran point from play got Rasharkin off to the start they needed at the start of the second half but again Hawkins responded for the girls in Blue from the puckout and added another with 9 minutes of the new half gone.
Rasharkin fought hard to get back into the game but their efforts were being frustrated by the Johnnies full back Carrie Anne Williamson who was repelling everything Rasharkin could throw at her.
Two further Aishling Hawkins’ points and a goal from substitute Duibheasa O’Reilly put the Whiterock Road side in a fairly commanding 3-10 to 0-8 lead as referee, Ryan O’Reilly sounded his whistle for the second water break.
It looked as good as over at this stage but Rasharkin refused to throw in the towel and kept battling to the final whistle and were rewarded for their efforts with Amy McMullan firing a 30 meter free to the net and Ellie Brennan getting a second with time almost up.
A couple more points from Aishling Hawkins kept the St. John’s girls in control however and it is they who now go forward to meet neighbours Gort na Mona in the semi-final on Thursday the 3d of September at a venue yet to be confirmed.
In the other Junior A camogie quarter finals the results were:
Junior A Championship Quarter-Finals:
Rasharkin 2-9 St John’s 3-12
Gort na Móna 6-9 Armoy 2-2
St Paul’s 0-1 Creggan 5-19
Junior semi-final fixtures
Thursday 3rd September
Junior Championship
– venues to be confirmed
St John’s v Gort na Móna
Cushendall v Creggan
St Mary’s Rasharkin: Clare McCaughan, Therese Mullaghan, Sharriffa O’Kane, Cadhla McLernon, Niamh Mooney, Noleen O’Kane, Ciara O’Neill, Kate McFerran (0-03), Aoife McFerran, Jade Henry (0-02), Amy McMullan (1-03), Eimear Hardy, Bronagh McFerran (0-01), Roisin Hardy, Christina Smith, Subs Niamh McLernon for Christina Smith, Ellie Brennan (1-00) for Roisin Hardy.
St John’s: D Boyd, C Carleton, CA Williamson, C Morgan, E Costello ,U Simpson, E Boyd, S Thompson, O Ni Chorra, P McGivern, A Hawkins(0-11), H McGuigan (0-01), F Leyden (1-00), SJ McGuigan (1-00), E Mead. Subs D O’Reilly (1-00) for F Leyden.
Referee Ryan O’Reilly (Glenravel)