Antrim Football League Division 2
Rasharkin 1-11 (14) Dunloy 2-10 (16)
Dunloy made their way over to neighbours Rasharkin on Wednesday evening and came away with both points after a close fought encounter. Deáglan Smith is the man the Cuchullains have to thank after the big centre forwards notched up 1-8 in a great personal display. Smith, who is just getting back to form after a long time injury, hit 0-5 in the a closely contested opening half, all from placed balls. However it was his goal five minutes into the second half that was ultimately to make the difference as the Dunloy men finally shook off the Rasharkin challenge.
The first seven minutes of the game was all Dunloy as a Caolan Gillan goal in the second minute was followed with three Smith points to give his team a five point cushion. The home team hit back with four points of their own, three of them from Andrew Hasson and one from Conor McFerran to cut the gap back to two. Smith sent over another point from a free to stretch the Dunloy lead to three, but three in a row from Conor McKeever, Andrew Hasson and Conor McFerran had the Dreen men level by half time.
Smith struck a telling blow for the Cuchullain’s when he fired in his team’s second goal 35 seconds after the restart. Andrew Hasson pulled a point back for Rasharkin on 34 minutes, but two more from Smith frees on 37 and 39 minutes gave the visitors a four point cushion that would see them home.
Two more Dunloy points two of them from Smith frees widened the gap to seven, and though Andrew Hasson replied with one for Rasharkin Smith struck again with a pointed free.
Eight points up with just two minutes of normal time to play it appeared to be plain sailing for Dunloy, but Rasharkin finished strongly with an Andrew Hasson point, and a goal from play from second half substitute Odhran McGarrell to cut the gap back to two. However it was a case of too little – too late and Dunloy were heading back over the Tullahans with the league points.
Rasharkin Team
1 – Tiernan O’Boyle
2 – Daniel Doherty
3 – Emmet McFerran
4 – Pearse Kelly
5 – Donagh Quigg
6 – Conor Hasson
7 – Conor Doherty
8 – Jack Quinn
9 – Thomas McMullan
10 – Thomas Doherty
11 – Shane Hasson
12 – Conor McKeever
13 – Ruairi OBoyle
14 – Conor McFerran
15 – Andrew Hasson
2nd Half Subs:
Odhran McGarrell on for Jack Quinn
Colm Kennedy on for Donagh Quigg