Antrim JHC, Group One
Davitt’s 3-11 Rasharkin 2-20
Davitt’s staged a late comeback in this Junior Hurling Championship,
Group 1 meeting with Rasharkin at Davitt’s Park but it came too late to affect the result as the men from Dreen collected an opening day win in this year’s championship.
The South West side led by 10 with only six minutes remaining but had been reduced to 14 men and it seemed the game was done and dusted with Conor McKeever in sparkling form, but the hosts struck with two late goals to give their visitors a few anxious moments as the clock ticked down.
Rasharkin got off to a dream start when Conor McFerran found Donagh Quigg with an astute pass and he had only one thing on his mind as he drilled home.
Davitt’s replied when Christopher Gallagher converted a 65 and they added a goal of their own just four minutes in when Marcas Toner caught the visiting defence napping from a 20-metre free as he finished to the top corner.
A Conor McKeever free brought the sides level with McFerran edging the visitors ahead as Davitt’s, aided by the wind, were going long, but were off target on several occasions.
Quigg extended the Rasharkin lead before Daeglan Mooney drove out of defence to reply and notch the hosts’ first score in 10 minutes, but further scores from Quigg and McFerran put the visitors three ahead.
St. Mary’s would double that lead in the 23d minute as they punished a mistake in the home side’s defence and although Geared Cosgrove was equal to Conor McKeever’s effort, Conor McKillop was there to finish the rebound.
Davitt’s responded well with Colm McKee pointing and Toner landing two frees and Rasharkin goalkeeper James O’Mullan then had to be alert to gather from a long delivery from Anthony Rowntree.
The visitors led by three as Darren McKeown sounded his half-time whistle as McKeever and Stephen Thompson traded late points with Rasharkin 2-6 to 1-6 ahead.
With the wind now at their backs, Rasharkin extended their lead at the start of the second half with Shane Hasson and Emmett McFerran hitting early points and although Toner hit back on the run, further scores from Hasson and McKeever extended the gap to six.
The South West side were dealt a blow in the 40th minute when they lost a man to a Red card after his umpires had drawn the referee’s attention to an off the ball incident.
Toner pointed the resulting free but McKeever stamped his class on proceedings as he hit the next four points of the game and Quigg added another to leave 10 in it with as many minutes remaining.
It seemed that was that, but Davitt’s managed to mount a charge and after an exchange of scores, Stephen McGivern converted a 65 and then a long ball into Anthony Rowntree saw him finish to the net.
McKeever and Gallagher then traded points but after Rasharkin substitute Tiernan O’Boyle landed his second, Colm McKee struck with a third Davitt’s goal to make the final minutes interesting.
That left just four in it with time still to play and the long ball into Rowntree was now beginning to cause problems, but the goal that Davitt’s needed failed to materialise as St. Mary’s held on for an opening day win.
Indeed it was McKeever who would strike the final two points to bring his personal tally to 10 for the evening and the Dreen side join their hosts on two points but Davitt’s have a game more played and await the final game between Rasharkin and Ardoyne to see where they finish for the knockout stages.
Davitt’s: G Cosgrove; J Park, T Toland, C Rainey; P Og Carleton, C Heaney, D Mooney (0-1); M Og Rowntree, C McKee (1-1); M Toner (1-4, 1-3f), S McGivern (0-2, 1f, 1 ’65’), C Maguire; S Thompson (0-1), A Rowntree (1-0), C Gallagher (0-2, 1f)
Subs: J Maguire for C Maguire (34)
Rasharkin: J O’Mullan; C Higgins, C Doherty, C Donaghy; R O’Boyle, A McKeever, J Higgins; C McFerran (0-2), D McKay; C Henderson, E McFerran (0-1), S Hasson (0-2); C McKillop (1-0), D Quigg (1-3), C McKeever (0-10, 7f)
Subs: T O’Boyle (0-2) for R O’Boyle (42), C Maria for C McKillop (51), D Hasson for C McFerran (53)
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)
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