Junior Hurling Championship Final
St. Paul’s v Rasharkin (Dunsilly 4-00)
St. Paul’s will start tomorrow’s Junior Hurling Championship final at Dunsilly as strong favourites following an impressive campaign which has seen them beat all before them on their way to tomorrow’s decider.
In the Group stages the Shaw’s Road side recorded massive wins over Shane O’Neill’s, Latharna Og and Davitt’s scoring and impressive 12-57 while conceding only 2-27 over their three games while in the quarter-final they continued their fine vein of scoring as they recorded a 6-32 to 2-8 win over All Saints at tomorrow’s venue.
St. Paul’s faced their toughest test to date when they took on Emmet’s Cushendun in the semi-final in Ballymena last Saturday but in a tight contest the ‘Hoops’ emerged 1-15 to 0-15 winners and that game was probably the test that they needed as they head to Dunsilly tomorrow.
Their opponents, St. Mary’s Rasharkin have been less impressive but never the less efficient in their Junior Championship campaign this year and will be quite happy to wear the underdog’s tag for tomorrow’s meeting with the city men.
Rasharkin topped a group 4 that included All Saints and Ardoyne and opened their campaign with a seven point win over All Saints at Dreen before travelling to the Crickey where they recorded a facile 9-22 to 0-8 win over a hapless Ardoyne.
They took on Shane O’Neill’s in a quarter-final that was their first real test in this year’s campaign and so it proved to be but the South West side came out tops in an excellent encounter, winning 1-16 to 1-14 and earning them a place in the semi-final against Glenravel.
This local derby is usually a tasty encounter and this one didn’t disappoint but it was St. Mary’s Rasharkin who emerged winners 2-12 to 1-8 to earn them a place in Saturday’s decider.
County player, Stephen Rooney has been in excellent scoring form for St. Paul’s this year, scoring 0-11 against the Emmets in the semi-final while his 2-6 late in the quarter-final against All Saints marks him down as a player to watch.
St. Paul’s have quality all over the field and last year’s beaten finalists will look to players like Colm McLarnon, James Farrell, Naoise O’Caireallain and Caolan Duffin for scores while Gerard Carberry, Fionntan Gamble, Conall Finnegan and Declan Chapman backbone a solid unit.
Rasharkin will go into tomorrow’s final with nothing to lose but will not be overawed by their opponents reputation and their battling qualities could make life difficult for the Shaw’s side. Aidan Darragh has taken over the goalkeeping duties this season with former county panellist, James Scally moving outfield and performing well but Scally was forced to retire injured against the Con Magee’s and Rasharkin will be hoping he recovers in time for tomorrow’s game.
Liam Tunney, Daniel Doherty, Emmet McFerran, Thomas McMullan, Conor McKeever and the Hassons, Daniel, Conor and Shane are all tried and trusted campaigners who will give it everything in the Rasharkin cause.
Verdict: St. Paul’s will start as firm favourites and while Rasharkin have the players to put it up to them I expect St. Paul’s to put the disappointment of Wednesday night’s Intermediate Football semi-final defeat behind them and win this one with something to spare.
