IFC Group 1
Rasharkin 0-10 St. Enda’s 2-15
St. Enda’s climbed to second place in Group 1 after this comprehensive win over St. Mary’s Rasharkin in Dreen on Saturday but now depend on slipups from Moneyglass or Sarsfields if they are to advance to the semi-finals.
The Glengormley side have played a game more than their competitors for a top 2 place with 5 points from 4 starts and they certainly left down a marker in this excellent win over a Rasharkin side who started well but faded.
Eamonn McNeill gave St. Mary’s the perfect start when he hit an excellent 2 pointer in the opening minute but Fionntan O’Connor collected and returned the ball over the bar after a great double save from Rasharkin keeper, Tiernan O’Boyle.
O’Connor levelled matters with a point in the 4th minute but an Oisin Casey pointed free and another from play by Thomas Hasson had the Dreen side 2 ahead again by the 10th minute.
Withg the elements in their favour it was imperative that Rasharkin build on that lead but Stephen O’Connor replied from a free for the Hightown men before O’Boyle pulled of another fine save as the visitors pressed again.
The home side appeared to be getting on top however when Caolan McGarrell and Brian Og O’Neill edged them three ahead by the 22nd minute but it was St. Enda’s who finished the half strongly and Stephen O’Connor, Fionntan O’Connor and Conor Eastwood had them back on terms at the halfway stage.
HT 0-6 TO 0-6
With the wind in their backs it was St. Enda’s who started the second half as they had finished the first and Conor Eastwood pointed and Stephen O’Connor added another from a free before Sean Murray punished a mix-up in the Rasharkin defence to finish to the net in the 9th minute.
Even at this stage it was hard to see the home side coming back as O’Connor added another pointed free in the 10th minute before Oisin Casey finally opened Rasharkin’s second half account from a pointed free in the 12th minute.
It failed to bring the necessary response from his colleagues however as St. Enda’s came back with four on the bounce from Stephen O’Connor (f), Sean McBride, Tomas Gilmore (f) and Stephen O’Connor (f) as a bit of frustration and indiscipline crept into the home side’s play.
It was all over with five minutes remaining as Stephen O’Connor punished another defensive mistake with his side’s second goal though, to their credit Rasharkin kept going to the end.
The home side kicked the final three points of the game through Oisin Casey, a great Cormac McMullan point from distance and a Brian Og O’Neill converted free but at this stage it was just an exercise in damage limitation.
A good win for St. Enda’s, who were the better team throughout and they put themselves in a strong position in the opening half when they matched Rasharkin score for score despite playing into the wind.
They must now await results of Patrick Sarsfields at home to Naomh Padraig, Lisburn and St. Ergnat’s away to Rasharkin and hope that one or both slip up at the final hurdle.
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