U16 Camogie League

Rasharkin 8-6 Davitt’s 2-3

A blistering start and fine individual performances from corner forward Molly Watson and captain Bronagh Doherty saw Rasharkin clinch the U16 camogie league title at Dreen on Wednesday.

The St Mary’s girls were made to withstand a second-half rally from the visitors but steadied the ship to run out comfortable winners.

The hosts seized the initiative early on with an early purple patch as centre forward Breonna McKenna scrambled home following a tidy save from the Davitt’s goalkeeper.

Sienna Mooney added a point before a brace of goals from Molly Watson and Bronagh Doherty put the Dreen side firmly in control at 3-1 to no score ahead.

Rocked by the intensity of the home side’s start, the Belfast girls found their feet midway through the first half.

Two well-taken frees from their midfielder closed the gap to eight points, but Rasharkin roared back, with Sienna Mooney netting before Bronagh Doherty notched her second major of the evening.

Caoimhe Quinn-Cassidy was called into action as Davitt’s pushed forward, the Sharkin stopper turning away a number of efforts before the visitors fired home their first goal from close range.

Again though the hosts responded; Meabh McCann slotted a neat pass into the path of Bronagh Doherty and the midfielder raced through to complete a first-half hattrick.

Rasharkin had a commanding 6-1 to 1-2 half time lead and added to their tally early in the second half as Molly Watson fired home her second goal of the evening.

Bronagh Doherty added a point from play before Tiernagh McMullan added the home side’s eighth goal of the night.

Davitt’s refused to lie down though and kept their opponents honest by mounting a late rally, firing home 1-1 in quick succession to reduce the deficit.

St Mary’s though regained their composure to finish with a flurry of points.

A Grace O’Boyle minor between two well-taken Watson points settled any nerves before skipper Bronagh Doherty completed the scoring with a late free.

Doherty raised the cup to the delight of her team-mates, who will now move forward to a championship meeting with either All Saints or Rossa next month.

Rasharkin: C Quinn-Cassidy, C Doherty, J Johnson-Barrett, K Baird, M McAleese, G Dickson, K McLernon, B Doherty (3-2), G O’Boyle (0-1), T McMullan (1-0), B McKenna (1-0), M McCann, E McCart, S Mooney (1-1), M Watson (2-2)

Subs: A McCart, L McFerran, C Hegarty, T McCoy

Management: Caroline Doherty, Damian McFerran, Michael Hardy

Referee: A McAuley (Ballycastle)