Antrim Hurling League – Division 3
Aodh O’Loan reports from Dreen
Rasharkin 1-15 Glenravel 1-12
Three points separated these two teams at full time but the visitors will look back on a total of thirteen wides, more than twice their opposition, and think what might have been had they been a little more accurate. Rasharkin played with the aid of a strong breeze first half and made full use of it to go in ahead 1-10 to 0-05 at half time even though the scoreline slightly flattered them having goaled with the final shot of the half. The breeze largely disappeared second half, much to the annoyance of the men in green and white who lost their way and found themselves nine points adrift with only seven minutes remaining. A late rally including a goal with the last poc of the game closed the gap but Rasharkin were worthy winners in the end.
Play was fairly even in the opening exchanges but wind assisted Rasharkin went to town scoring the opening four points whilst their opponents squandered four chances in that same period. However when Glenravel finally got their sights set on the target they responded to bring the game level on four points each after twenty minutes. However the Dreen men would go on to dominate the final ten minutes and forge a lead that would never be closed. In total they recorded 1-06 in that time with the most notable score being a sideline cut from man of the match Conor McKeever from way out on the left hand sideline. Joe Canning would have been proud of it. In those closing minutes, only Sean McKay would raise a flag for the visitors who would have been disappointed to go 1–10 to 0-05 in arrears after playing some good hurling into a very strong breeze.
Glenravel needed a good start to the second period and they got that with points from Sean McKay and Ciaran McIlfatrick who had an impressive hour’s hurling. So the gap was now seven. Rasharkin came straight back through McKeever again who was always a threat and the lively Cathair Henderson so the game looked to be over as a contest. Sean McKay and Conor McKeever traded a couple of points each from placed balls and in the final five minutes Glenravel would go on to add 1-03, with the goal coming from Sean McKay with the final poc of the game but is wasn’t enough so the points will stay in Dreen on this occasion.
Rasharkin’s pitch held up well given the recent torrents of rain we’ve experienced but the conditions were not conducive to fast, flowing, first touch hurling. However both teams certainly worked hard over the hour with some really classy hurling from Conor McKeever including winning his own ball and scoring at will from frees and play. That was enough to give Rasharkin the edge when the final whistle blew.
