1FC Group 1
St. Mary’s Rasharkin 2-17 Sarsfield’s 1-17
A splendid display of goalkeeping from Rasharkin’s Liam Tunney and a rather fortuitous goal from his own half by Conor McKeever saw St. Mary’s Rasharkin claim victory over Sarsfields in an exciting and keenly contested Group 1 opener at Dreen on Friday night.
St. Mary’s keeper, Tunney pulled off a handful splendid stops over the hour and his handling of the sliothar under pressure and his distribution over the hour were instrumental in his side’s victory.
It was Conor McKeever who shot Rasharkin into an early lead with a point in the opening minute but the visitors responded with points from Enda McCartan 0-2 Caolan McKernan and 0-2 to lead by the by the 9th minute.
Above Featured Image: Conor McKillop who was in excellent scoring form for the home side
McKeever raised his second white flag of the evening but McKernan was on fire for the visitors as he struck two long range frees to increase their lead before a Conor McKeever ‘65’ and point from distance by Tiernan O’ Boyle had it back to 2 with 19 minutes gone.
Caolan McKernan continued to display unerring accuracy from the placed ball as he hit two more before Rasharkin lost a player to a Red card for a reckless swing.
The Stewartstown Road side were calling the shots at this stage with McKernan’s 5th of the contest and McCartan’s third moving them 4 ahead with five minutes remaining to the break.
Donagh Quigg and Conor McKeever responded with points for the men from Dreen but they had their keeper, Liam Tunney to thank for a couple of excellent saves as the visitors threatened to take total control.
The final score of the half fell the way of Sarsfield’s ace marksman, Caolan McKernan who converted a ‘65’ deep into injury time to leave his side leading 0-10 to 0-7 at the interval and the hosts now down to 14 men.
The visitors moved further ahead on the restart with Fionn Jemfrey pointing after 10 seconds but Rasharkin replied through Donagh Quigg and another Conor McKeever converted free to keep in touch.
They looked in trouble when Michael Johnston got in for the first goal of the game for the ‘Paddies’ in the 7th minute but once again St. Mary’s found a response.
Conor McKeever continued to match the free taking prowess of McKernan with another converted free and then a bit of fortune fell the way of the home side when Conor McKeever’s massive effort from his own half deceived Andrew McStay in the Sarsfield’s goal and dipped to the net.
The visitors looked rattled as Donagh Quigg added a 10th minute point and then a terrible mix-up in the visitors defence saw the impressive McKeever finish to the net.
The momentum was now very much with the side in Blue & Amber as McKeever from another free and Donagh Quigg with a fine strike from out on the left put the home side in a commanding position at the end of the third quarter.
Sarsfield’s were not finished however as they staged a rally of their own and once again net minder Tunney came to his side’s rescue with his 4th excellent stop of the evening.
The visitors pressed again however as Caolan McKernan pointed a 20th minute free and Anthony McGarrigle added another from play before two more McKernan’s conversions had it back to two with 6 minutes remaining.
It still looked anybody’s game but it was Rasharkin who finished the stronger with McKeever landing another long range effort and McGarrigle replying for the men from the ‘Bear Pit’.
Quigg, McKeever (free) and another from play moved the gap to three with two minutes of normal time remaining with McKeever again responding to a McKernan pointed free in injury time to conclude the scoring.
Rasharkin’s next game is against Cloney Gaels in Rasharkin on the 23d August and is sure to attract a bumper crowd to Dreen as old adversaries renew acquaintance while Sarsfields don’t play again until the Saturday 20th September when they entertain St. Paul’s at the Bear Pit.
Rasharkin: 1 Liam Tunney, 2 Connor Higgins, 3 Conor Doherty, 4 Daniel Hasson, 5 Tiernan O’Boyle, 6 Aidan McKeever, 7 Jack Quinn, 8 Declan McKay, 9 Conor McFerran, 10 Cathir Henderson, 11 Donagh Quigg, 12 Jason McGregor, 13 Conor McKillop, 14 Thomas McMullan, 15 Conor McKeever, 16 Brian Og O’Neill, 17 Terry McGregor, 18 Oisin Doherty, 19 Brendan Kelly
Sarsfields: 1 Andrew McStay, 3 Niall McAlea, 4 Daragh Coleman, 5 Aidan McKiernan, 6 David Johnston, 7 Jay Ward, 8 Caolan McKernan, 9 Nicolas O’Mullane, 10 Enda McCartan, 11 Michael Johnston, 12 Anthony McGarrigle, 14 Fionn Jemfrey, 17 Jay Maguire, 19 Mark McCavanagh, 21 Daniel Smyth, 20 Niall Cardell.
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
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