ACFL Division 2
St. Mary’s Rasharkin 0-8 Naomh Padraig Lisburn 1-20
Naomh Padraig Lisburn stayed in touch with leaders Moneyglass and Sarsfields with a comprehensive win over a depleted St. Mary’s Rasharkin at a sun kissed Dreen on Wednesday night.
The Lisburn side have suffered just one defeat this season and in truth that statistic was never in doubt as they took the game to St. Mary’s right from the throw-in.
Playing a delightful brand of fast flowing football they had built up a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after five minutes with Oisin Gorman (f), Adam Patterson, Brendan McGirr and Patterson again the men on target.
The home side were finding it difficult to get their hands on the ball but Brian Og O’Neill opened their account from a long range free in the 7th minute.
It provided only temporary respite however and with Patterson and McGirr dominating at mid-field they added a stream of unanswered points through Rudi Smyth and the excellent Oisin Gorman 0-4 (2f’s) to lead by nine with 16 minutes gone.
Rasharkin had been under the cosh for most of the opening quarter but they came to life through an excellent Oisin Casey point and Brian Og O’Neill added a couple of pointed frees as they enjoyed a short spell of supremacy.
It was Naomh Padraig who finished the half on top however and Colm Burns and Adam Patterson added late points to leave it 0-11 to 0-4 in favour of the Lisburn side at the short whistle.
Adam Patterson increased that lead to 8 within 20 seconds of the restart before Brian Og O’Neill pointed two frees at the other end to leave six between the sides.
Rasharkin were unable to win enough ball around the middle third however and the visitors came back strongly with Cathair Henderson in the Rasharkin goals pulling off a great save to deny Rudi Smyth at the expense of a point.
A goal was not long in coming however and another fine move, started by Josh McMullan deep in defence saw Adam Patterson finish to the Rasharkin net and it was as good as over.
Oisin Gorman and Benjamin McMullan added points as the visitors emptied their bench as Brian Og fired over his sixth free of the evening with substitute Doran Thompson replying from a free at the other end.
Rory Kennedy and Thompson again extended the visitors lead to 15 with Brian Og concluding the Rasharkin scoring from his 7th of the game and Eoin Dixon bringing matters to a close with an injury time point for Naomh Padraig.
A good win for an excellent Naomh Padraig who have now recorded five wins from six starts and sit just a point behind Sarsfields and Moneyglass in the race for the title.
An under strength Rasharkin had little answer to them on the night with Brian Og O’Neill their outstanding performer and they will hope to get their walking wounded back on board, sooner rather than later as they find themselves perilously close to the bottom of the table.
Rasharkin: 1 Cathair Henderson, 2 Pearce Kelly, 3 Pearse McTague, 4 Daniel McGurk, 5 Colm Kennedy, 6 Fergus Quigg, 7 Oran McMullan, 8 Jack Quinn, 9 Tiernan O’Boyle, 10 Killian O’Boyle, 11 Donagh Quigg, 12 Daniel Doherty, 13 Oisin Casey, 14 Brian Og O’Neill, 15 Cormac McMullan.
Subs: Odhran Lynch, Ethan McAffee, and Liam Quigg
Naomh Padraig: 1 Ruadhan McKenna, 2 Jack McMullan, 3 Sean Burns, 4 Jack Broderick, 5 Josh McMullan, 6 Benjamin McMullan, 7 Che Smyth, 8 Brendan McGirr, 9 Adam Patterson, 10 Rory Kennedy, 11 Oisin Gorman, 12 Colm Burns, 13 Jude Rafferty, 14 Eoin Dixon, 18 Rudi Smyth
Subs: Doran Thompson, Luka Mulholland, Conor Doran, Darra Austin
Referee: Martin Quinn
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