Ulster Junior Hurling Club Championship quarter-final
St. Mary’s Rasharkin 1-15 East Cavan Gaels 4-16
Rasharkin’s hopes of a place in the Ulster final were blown off course in Carrickmore on Sunday where they lost to a very physical East Cavan Gaels in a bad tempered affair where referee Barry Winters had his work cut out to keep a lid on proceedings.
The Antrim champions made a bright start in Pairc Colmcille with Cathir Henderson pointing them ahead in the second minute before the Gaels Colm Gargan became the first player to receive Yellow with only three minutes on the clock.
The Dreen side responded from a Conor McKeever free to move two in front and the early indications were looking good for St. Mary’s but when Jack Barry opened the Cavan combination side’s account with a point in the 7th minute things began to change.
Liam O’Brien, who would have a massive influence on the game, levelled from a pointed free but Rasharkin were giving as good as they got and Shane Hasson restored their lead with a point in the 9th minute.
Conor McKeever extended that lead from a well struck free and Nicolas Kenny and Donagh Quigg exchanged further points to keep the gap at two after 13 minutes.
The tackles were going in thick and fast and Carrickmore was certainly no place for the faint hearted as play continued to swing from end to end with Liam O’Brien from a free and Conor McKillop exchanging further minors.
Some of the tackling left a lot to be desired with the Cavan combination putting in heavy challenges that were starting to unsettle Rasharkin and the Cavan men hit two points on the bounce through Nicolas Kenny and Liam O’Brien before Callum Shiels finished from close range for the game’s opening goal in the 17th minute.
That goal put East Cavan Gaels ahead for the first time in the match and four minutes later things went from bad to worse for the Blue & Ambers as Conor McKeever received a second Yellow and the Red that followed.
The Gaels pushed forward in the closing stages of the half with their numerical advantage with the excellent Liam O’Brien leading the way with two points and Nicolas Kenny adding another with Rasharkin’s only response coming from a Shane Hasson free.
As the card count continued to rise the Cavan side struck a decisive blow as the game crept into injury time with Callum Shiel getting in for his side’s second goal to leave his side 2-9 to 0-7 ahead at the short whistle.
Shiel extended the Cavan lead with a point on the restart with Cahir Henderson for Rasharkin and Nicolas Kenny for the Gaels exchanging further points and it wasn’t looking good for the Antrim men, even at this early juncture.
They did respond however and, roared on by the good crowd who had made the journey to Carrickmore they hit the next four points through Shane Hasson 0-2 and Tiernan O’Boyle 0-2, O’Boyle’s scores coming from two massive long range frees.
Hasson’s second cut the deficit to five with 19 minutes remaining and the momentum was with the Antrim champions but the excellent O’Brien replied from a couple of frees to put further daylight between the sides.
Shane Hasson had taken over the free taking duties from the unfortunate Conor McKeever and he converted another but Liam O’Brien was punishing every perceived indiscretion by the Dreen side as he replied with two more.
Things appeared to be turning in favour of the Antrim men when Rory Farrell received a straight Red with seven minutes remaining and a minute later Shane Hasson fired home to close the gap to four and a comeback looked on the cards.
We then had a bizarre situation when Cian McEntee bundled the sliotar to the net at the other end but was then dismissed following consultation between Barry Winters and his umpires but the goal was allowed to stand.
A minute later Rory Farrell drove the final nail in the Rasharkin coffin as he fired home his side’s fourth goal from close range with Liam O’Brien and Tiernan O’Boyle exchanging late points and Rasharkin’s Brian Og O’Neill becoming the second Rasharkin man to receive Red.
A tough uncompromising game of hurling, spoiled by too many late challenges but East Cavan Gaels look like being serious challengers in the final. A strong physical side with good individuals in Tadh Barry, Jack Barry, Jack McGuinness, Canice Maher, Callum Shiel, Nicolas Kenny and the excellent Liam O’Brien.
They face a massive challenge in the final however against Ballinascreen of Derry who defeated Ballela of Down in the other semi-final the Derry side will start that decider as firm favourites.
For Rasharkin the loss of Conor McKeever was immeasurable but the men from Dreen have had a superb season and did their club and county proud and can push on from their Antrim success as they contest Intermediate next season.
Rasharkin: James O’Mullan, Daniel Doherty, Conor Doherty, Connaire Donaghy, Ruairi O’Boyle, Aidan McKeever, Tiernan O’Boyle, Shane Hasson, Conor McFerran, Cathir Henderson, Emmet McFerran, Conor McKeever, Donagh Quigg, Conor McKillop, Declan McKay.
Subs: Daniel Hasson, Brian Og O’Neill
East Cavan Gaels: Conor Gallagher, Sean Walsh, Tadh Barry, Colin Gargan, Jack Barry, Jack McGuinness, Canice Maher, Philip McKeon, Callum Shiel, Liam O’Brien, Daire Leddy, Rory Farrell, Nicolas Kenny, Cian McEntee, James Tully
Sub: Kyle McGuinness
Referee: Barry Winters (Tyrone)
TO VIEW PICS FROM GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW