Antrim Hurling League – Division 3
Rasharkin 2-17 Glenravel 0-19
This was the third meeting of these two sides in Dreen this season; the first was a pre-season friendly which ended in a draw, the second was Abbey Shield Final which Glenravel won by a six point margin so the hosts had a point to prove in this game and it was clear that over the hour they were the hungrier for victory. Rasharkin had a greater physical presence and picked off some fine long range points in a perfect day for hurling. One area that might concern them though is a heavy reliance on Tiernan O’Boyle and Connor McKeever for their scores. Those two contributed 2-12 (1-06 each) of the 2-17 total whilst Glenravel had a more even spread of scores with five of the six starting forwards contributing to their tally.
Glenravel dominated the opening quarter with a good range of scores from Cormac McKeown, Joe McKay, Declan Traynor, Luke Loughlin and Conleth O’Loan helping them to 0-07 to 0-03 lead, Conor McKeever providing the hosts scores all from frees. McKeever’s free taking was instrumental in the Rasharkin victory on the day. The hosts then started to get some rhythm and put over three points in succession to reduce the gap to the minimum. McKeever again from a free followed by Colm Kennedy and Conor Higgins providing those scores. Back came Glenravel with three on the bounce from Declan Traynor (0-02) and Joe McKay. But with seven minutes of the opening half left to play Rasharkin raised a green flag when a long ball in ended up in the net and once again only a single point separated the teams. Buoyed by that score the host side’s half forward line kicked into gear as each of them, Conor McFerran, Donagh Quigg and Conor McKeever put three over for the home side to lead for the first time on the stroke of half time. The teams retired to the changing rooms with Rasharkin ahead 1-09 to 0-10.
Declan Traynor reduced the margin to three points at the start of the second half but inside one minute McFerran pointed hand then goaled to strike a hammer blow for Rasharkin. Suddenly there was a five point gap – how would the visitors respond? Cometh the hour cometh the man as Cormac McKeown took the bull by the horns and put over three great scores in succession to leave two points between the teams. O’Boyle and McFerran stretched that to four and Conleth O’Loan kept Glenravel in it with a fine score to take us into the final quarter with Rasharkin ahead by three points. The game was in the melting pot at this stage and as the final whistle beckoned it would be the home side who finished stronger. They notched up five further points from Tiernan O’Boyle whilst Glenravel replied through Cormac McKeown, Fergus Donaghy, Joe McKay and Conleth O’Loan, but it wasn’t enough and Rasharkin avenged The Abbey Shield defeat of a couple of weeks ago to secure both points.
1 Liam Tunney, 2 Jason McGregor, 3 Connaire Donaghy, 4 Conor Doherty, 5 Connor Higgins, 6 Tiernan O’Boyle, 7 Ruairi O’Boyle, 8 Conan McMullan, 9 Brianog O’Neill, 10 Conor McFerran, 11 Donagh Quigg, 12 Conor McKeever, 13 Oisín Doherty, 14 John Kelly, 15 Terence McGregor.
Michael McDonald, Oisin McKeown (2), James Duffin (3), Brian O’Neill (4) Daragh Donaghy (5), Rian Lennon (6), Eoin McCusker (7), Harry Fyfe (8), Fergus Donaghy (9), Joseph McKay (10), Declan Traynor (11), Cormac McKeown (12), Luke Laughlin (13), Ciaran Laverty (14), Conleth O’Loan (15).
Referee – Lee O’Reilly (Dunloy)