By Liam Tunney
ACCL Division 3
Rasharkin 3-09
Armoy 0-04
St Mary’s Rasharkin got off to a winning start in their Antrim Camogie League Division 3 campaign with a comfortable victory over Armoy on Thursday evening.
The home side shook off a nervy opening quarter to take control of the game, with goals from Bronagh Hasson, Cora Henderson and Niamh Kennedy helping them to a 14-point victory.
Danielle McAllister raised a white flag for the hosts almost immediately from the throw-in, ending a driving run with a shot that came off both bar and upright before splitting the posts.
Rasharkin were profligate during the opening quarter and the wide count began to rack up, but it took Armoy five minutes to respond, Erin McFetridge wriggling free of Cadhla McLernon to point.
The visitors then took the lead on 9 minutes, with Caitlin McCullagh finishing a counter attack, but Jade Henry restored parity, racing clear to split the uprights and leave the sides level at the water break.
Stern words were had in the Rasharkin huddle and they responded well as quickfire points from Jade Henry and Ciara O’Boyle opening up a two-point gap.
Two soon became five, as corner forward Bronagh Hasson latched onto a searching ball from Eimhear Hardy and buried it past the Armoy goalkeeper.
The north Antrim side almost hit back immediately with a green flag of their own. A free was worked short into the penalty area, but goalkeeper Kate McFerran produced a fine save from the resulting shot.
St Mary’s ended the half strongly, Ciara O’Boyle scooping over from 20 yards for her second of the evening to leave the hosts six points to the good at the break.
The opening stages of the second half were scrappy, with neither side able to gain a foothold. It took seven minutes to break the deadlock, but when it came, it effectively killed the game.
A high ball caused chaos in the Armoy six yard box, and the ball broke to substitute Cora Henderson, who rifled home from ten yards out to leave Rasharkin nine points ahead.
A further Henderson free stretched the lead to double digits, before a long shot from Niamh Kennedy dropped to the net to leave the home side 3-06 to 0-02 ahead at the second water break.
Midfielder Aoife McFerran continued the scoring immediately after the restart, firing low over the bar, but Armoy then slotted their first point of the second half through Ciara Devlin.
Bronagh McFerran then swapped points with Erin McFetridge before Niamh Kennedy hit the game’s final score, cutting in off the left flank and firing between the posts.
A 14-point win then for the hosts who head into their next game against Brídíní Óga with a spring in their step.
Rasharkin: Kate McFerran, Thérèse Mullaghan, Roisín Hardy, Cadhla McLernon, Ciara O’Neill, Shariffa O’Kane, Niamh Mooney, Eimhear Hardy (0-01), Aoife McFerran (0-01), Ciara O’Boyle (0-02), Niamh Kennedy (1-01), Jade Henry (0-02), Bronagh Hasson (1-00), Bronagh McFerran (0-01), Danielle McAllister (0-01)
Subs: Niamh McFerran for Jade Henry (23), Cora Henderson (1-01, 0-01f) for Bronagh Hasson (HT), Bronagh Hasson for Danielle McAllister (47), Danielle McAllister for Ciara O’Boyle (58)
Armoy scorers: Erin McFetridge (0-02), Caitlin McCullagh (0-01), Ciara Devlin (0-01f)