ACHL Division 3
Rasharkin 1-14 Na Magha 1-13
A pointed free from Conor McKeever as the game edged into injury time earned St. Mary’s Rasharkin the points in a tight game of hurling that could have gone either way and was perhaps cruel in the end to visitors, Na Magha.
The Derry side’s talisman, Deaglan Foley looked to have earned his side a point when he pointed frees in the 28th and 29th minutes to draw the side’s level but there would be one last play remaining and McKeever gladly accepted the opportunity.
It was Na Magha who made the early running and aftewr Conor McFerran edged the home side ahead, they came back with a rather fortuitous goal when a long range free from Deaglan Foley dropped to the Rasharkin net.
Foley followed with a point from play and points from Ruairi Crossan and Timoth Rankin had the visitors four in front at the end of the opening quarter.
Donagh Quigg struck Rashrkin’s second point in the 17th minute with Tommy Gallagher replying for Na Magha and another pointed free by the impressive Deaglan Foley moved the Derry side five in front after 23 minutes and the South West side looked in a bit of trouble.
They finally came to life as the opening half neared conclusion with Donagh Quigg firing to the net and Tiernan O’Boyle splitting the uprights to leave just two between the sides at the break.
Conor McKeever closed the gap to the minimum on the restart but that man Foley replied at the other end to restore his side’s two point advantage as play swung from end to end.
McKeever and Foley exchanged further points before Ryan mcAdams extended the Na Magha lead to three with a point in the 10th minute and it looked like the visitors might push on at this stage.
Rasharkin had been second best up to this stage of the contest but they suddenly came to life with Conor McKeever, Donagh Quigg 0-2 and Tiernan O’Boyle from a sideline cut striking unanswered points to see them hit the front at the end of the third quarter.
The visitors replied through Tommy Gallagher to tie the contest once more but a Conor McFerran point from play and a pointed free from Conor McFerran moved the home side two in front by the 20th minute.
Deaglan Foley for Na Magha and Conor McKeever for the home side exchanged points as the free count increased in this keenly contested encounter and another from mid-fielder Tommy Rankin left matters finely balanced with six minutes remaining.
A Rasharkin pointed free from Conor McKeever looked to be enough to seal it for the Dreen men but Na Magha quite simply would not go away and Deaglan Foley looked to have earned them a share of the spoils with those latew pointed frees.
That late winner from Conor McKeever for the home side must have been a bitter pill to swallow but Na Magha’s division 3 future for next season looks to have been secured and on the evidence of what they produced on Sunday they deserve to be there.
Deaglan Foley was excellent for na Magha and ended with 1-7 while Conor |McKeever with 7 pointed frees for the Dreen side was vital for Rasharkin in a game of fine margins that could have gone either way
Rasharkin :
- 1. Liam Tunney;
- 2. Conor Doherty, 3. Daniel Doherty, 4. Connor McKillop;
- 5. Ruairi O’Boyle, 6. Tiernan O’Boyle, 7. James Higgins;
- 8. Emmet McFerran, 9. Shane Hasson;
- 10. Cathair Henderson, 11. Conor McFerran, 12. Daniel Hasson;
- 13. Aidan McKeever, 14. Conor McKeever, 15. Donagh Quigg
- Subs:
- Caelan Maria for Shane Hasson (inj) 21mins
- Connor Donaghy for James Higgins 51mins
- Scorers:
- Conor McKeever 0-7 (7f)
- Donagh Quigg 1-3
- Conor McFerran 0-2
- Tiernan O’Boyle 0-2
Na Magha: 1 Barry Robinson, 3 Diarmuid Shiels, 4 Daniel Doherty, 5 Adam Rankin, 6 Breandan Quigley, 7 Adam Breslin, 8 Timothy Rankin, 9 Aidan Cutliffe, 10 Tommy Gallagher, 11 Deaglan Foley, 12 Ryan McAdams, 31 Ruairi Crossan14 Conor McGoran, 15 Conor O’Donovan, 16 Oisin Duddy, 17 Odhran Clenaghan, 18 Keelan Doherty, 19 Conaire Meehan.
Na Magha scorers:
Deaglan Foley 1-7 (1-4f)
Timothy Rankin 0-2
Tommy Gallagher 0-2
Ruairi Crossan 0-1
Ryan mcAdams 0-1
Referee: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)