Graham Tarmac JFC Semi-Final
Rasharkin 2-13(19) St Malachys 0-5(5)
St. Mary’s Rasharkin overcame the challenge of a fighting St. Malachy’s in terrible conditions at Dreen on Sunday to book their place in the Graham Tarmac Junior Football championship final and keep their hopes of the double alive.
On a heavy pitch, worsened by the downpour that fell in the hours leading up to the game and a Junior Camogie quarter-final, that preceded this encounter, both sides deserve tremendous credit for the fare they served up over the hour.
The visitors started this game as massive underdogs but managed to frustrate Rasharkin during the opening exchanges with their short passing game denying the opposition of possession.
The Market’s side actually took the lead when Ciaran Vernon pointed them ahead from a free in the 4th minute before Sean Turley in the Mal’s goal brought off a splendid save to deny Eammon McNeill what looked a certain goal.
Rasharkin equalised through Cathal Mooney and a Ryan Lynch goal in the 11th minute helped to settle those early jitters. Donagh Quigg added a good point but St. Malachy’s were moving the ball well and Vernon pointed his second free at the end of the opening quarter.
Slowly though the Dreen side were starting to exert control with Thomas McMullan and Ruairi O’Boyle driving them forward from mid-field and Ryan Lynch kicked his second point of the game with Shane Hasson adding another before Lynch made it three for the evening.
St. Malachy’s continued to battle and were rewarded when Cathal Jordan fired over a great score and David Casey added another to close the gap to four at the halfway stage and remind the league winners that they were still in a game.
Half time score: Rasharkin 1-5(8) St Malachys 0-4(4)
With the wind and rain now in their favour St. Mary’s stepped up their game on the restart as Ryan Lynch pointed an early free from 40 meters and Eammon McNeill and Tiernan O’Boyle, with a great point, moved the home side 1-8 to 0-4 ahead by the 12th minute.
Lynch was in great form for the League winners and he punished another indiscretion to move his side 8 ahead at the end of the third quarter and another from Cormac McMullan saw the home side in total control.
St. Malachy’s hadn’t raised a flag but produced a well organised attack and looked in for a goal in the 19th minute with Gavin McManus just failing to get the vital touch and the danger was averted.
Ciaran Vernon finally opened their second half account with another pointed free in the 20th minute but the Rasharklin pressure was now incessant and Oisin Casey and Donagh Quigg replied at the other end before Thomas ‘Tucker’ McMullan got their second goal after playing a smart 1-2 with Eammon McNeill.
Oran McMullan concluded the scoring for St. Mary’s with a point as the game entered time added on and Rasharkin are now just one game away from a famous double as they look forward to a final meeting with O’Donnell’s in two weeks-time.
Rasharkin: 1 – Andrew Hasson, 2 – Pearce Kelly, 3 – Emmet McFerran, 4 – Fergus Quigg, 5 – Cormac McMullan, 6 – Conor Hasson, 7 – Tiernan O’Boyle, 8 – Thomas McMullan, 9 – Ruairi OBoyle, 10 – Donagh Quigg, 11 – Cathal Mooney, 12 – Oran McMullan, 13 – Shane Hasson, 14 – Eammon McNeill, 15 – Ryan Lynch
St. Malachy’s: 1 Sean Turley, 2 Colin Connolly, 26 Caoimhin Corr, 4 Sean O’Neill, 5 David Casey, 6 Daniel Quinn, 7 Pearse Hanna, 8 Anthony Dobbin, 9 Ciaran Vernon, 10 Cathal Jordan, 12 Ronan Maneely, 13 Paul Carlisle, 15 Mark Connolly, 17 Fintan McBride, 18 Gavin McManus, 20 Thomas Rice
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
