ACFL Division 3
O’Donnell’s 3-5 Rasharkin 1-15
Rasharkin travelled to MacRory Park last night for what looked like a difficult fixture and so it proved to be but in the end they came away with their unbeaten run intact and a quick return to division 2 football for next season very much on track.
Four points separated the protagonists at half time but there was just a goal in it when Charlie Hemsworth sounded his full-time whistle after a keenly contested game where Eammon McNeill made a major contribution with 0-7 for the Dreen side.
McNeill got the visitors off to a great start with a point in the 4th minute but they were rocked back on their heels when the home side replied with a goal with nine minutes gone.
Rasharkin closed the gap to the minimum through another point from Eammon McNeill but the home side were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges and moved two clear once more.
The visitors fought hard to get back into the game and did just that when they produced a good move which saw youngster, Oisin Casey drill his shot to the O’D’s net in the 19th minute to give his side the lead for the second time in the contest.
This score seemed to lift Rasharkin and they added points through Odhran Mooney and a monster of a point from veteran mid-fielder, Cathal Mooney and when Oran McMullan and Eammon McNeill added two more by the 23d minute they had put themselves in a commanding position.
The home side looked rattled but they gathered themselves up of the canvas and came storming back with a goal of their own through their corner-forward in the 24th minute and when they followed with a point the MacRory Park side were right back in contention.
It was visitors Rasharkin who finished the half on the front foot however with Cathal Mooney, Eammon McNeill and 18 year old Oisin Casey striking unanswered points to see them lead 1-9 to 2-2 at the interval.
The South West side increased their lead to five through a Shane Hasson point on the restart and Eammon McNeill added another before the home side replied with O’Donnell’s first score of the half in the 4th minute.
The visitors were still dictating the play and moving the ball around with confidence as Shane Hasson restored their six point advantage with a pointed free but the home side were still battling hard and replied with points to serve notice that they were still in contention with 16 minutes gone.
Once again the league leaders were able to respond with Eammon McNeill again on target and Killian O’Boyle added another after good work from Oisin Casey who was staking a claim for a regular starting spot on the Rasharkin team.
The visitors were looking very comfortable at this stage but O’Donnell’s were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty and their number 15 made no mistake as he fired past Andrew Hasson to close the gap to two with only minutes remaining.
It was Rasharkin who kept their heads however and a decisive counter with virtually the last play of the game saw Oisin Casey fire over the insurance point, the youngster finishing like a veteran to ensure there would be no way back for the home side.
This win moves Rasharkin to the top of the table on 14 points from seven starts with Pearses on the same number of points but having played two games more. Laochra Loch Lao are handily placed in third while O’Donnell’s sit in fourth, only three behind last night’s opponents.
Rasharkin: 1 – Andrew Hasson, 2 – Pearse Kelly, 3 – Emmet McFerran, 4 – Conor Hasson, 5 – Colm Kennedy, 6 – Donagh Quigg, 7 – Fergus Quigg, 8 – Thomas McMullan, 9 – Cathal Mooney
10 – Oran McMullan, 11 – Ruairi OBoyle, 12 – Shane Hasson, 13 – Oisin Casey, 14 – Eammon McNeill, 15 – Killian O’Boyle
Referee: Charlie Hensworth