Featured Image: Andrew Hasson who top scored for St. Mary’s in their win over Eire Og
ACFL Division 3
Rasharkin 0-17 Eire Og 1-7
Unbeaten Eire Og travelled to Rasharkin on Wednesday night to take on a Rasharkin team who have had an indifferent start to the season but who came ‘good’ on the night to defeat their visitors fairly convincingly in the end.
The early exchanges showed us just why the Derriaghy side had played themselves into this lofty position and a flowing move in the 6th minute saw Conall Smith fire an unstoppable shot to Ryan Doherty’s net to move them two ahead.
Andrew Hasson had opened the scoring for the Dreen side with a pointed free and the Rasharkin number 14 would have an increasing influence as the game progressed with his accuracy from the placed ball.
It was Eire Og who continued to enjoy the better of the wind assisted opening quarter as Conor Dixon punched over and Lorcan McIlroy converted a free to move them four ahead by the 12th minute.
Andrew Hasson’s second conversion of the evening closed the gap to three but the visitors were winning a lot of breaking ball from the kick-outs but were guilty of a series of bad wides as they tried to add to their early lead.
They were made to pay for their wastefulness as Andrew Hasson struck an excellent point at the other end from play and Thomas Hasson followed with another to leave just one between the sides approaching half time.
The visitors replied as Conor Dixon fisted over with Andrew Hasson kicking the final point of the half from a free and a one point lead for the Derriaghy side looked precarious as the sides headed for the dressing rooms, given the strength of the breeze.
And so it proved to be as Andrew Hasson struck from distance to raise an Orange flag on the restart and Eamonn McNeill followed with a point from play to move St. Mary’s two ahead.
Lorcan McIlroy replied with a point for Eire Og, who were still enjoying plenty of possession but were finding it hard to turn that possession into scores with Fergus Quigg superb at full-back for the hosts.
A 2 pointer from Eamon McNeill moved the home side further ahead and the visitor’s troubles grew when Eoin Dixon was shown Black and Rasharkin began to take control.
A Tiernan O’Boyle point moved the home side four ahead after 17 minutes but Eire Og did respond and a point from Conor McKenna, and two from Conor Dixon by the 23d minute reduced the gap to the minimum and we looked set for a grandstand finish.
It failed to materialise with Thomas Hasson replying at the other end as Eoin Dixon returned from the sin bin and Andrew Hasson, Substitute, Brian Og O’Neill and a great 2 pointer from Eamonn McNeill put it out of reach of the opposition.
Team captain, Cormac McMullan concluded the scoring with a late point for the Dreen side who were worthy winners in the end and this win should give them confidence for the campaign ahead.
Andrew Hasson gave an exhibition of point taking and would finish with 0-7 for the evening but this was an excellent team performance and team mangers, Cathal McMullan and Paddy Kelly will be happy with what they saw on the evening.
Eire Og showed in spells just why they had started the season so well and some of their approach play and movement was top drawer but too often their shooting let them down.
I would expect them to return from this setback and they look like a side who could be challenging for honours come season’s end.
St. Mary’s Rasharkin: 1 Ryan Doherty, 3 Fergus Quigg, 4 Pearce Kelly, 5 Connor Higgins, 6 Pearse McTeague, 7 Colm Kennedy, 8 Tiernan O’Boyle, 9 Ruairi O’Boyle, 22 Thomas Hasson, 11, Cormac McMullan, 13 Eamonn McNeill, 14 Andrew Hasson, 15 Killian O’Boyle, 16 Oran McMullan
Eire Og: 1 Jamie King, 2 Barry McDaid, 3 Brian O’Malley, 4 Kayvan Vesali, 5 Luca Mulholland, 6 Stephen Erskine, 7 Mark O’Hanlon, 8 Patrick Maxwell, 9 Eoin Dixon, 10 Gavin Donnelly, 11 Conor McKenna, 12 Ciaran Rice, 13 Conall Smith, 20 Conor Dixon, 15 Lorcan McIlroy
Referee: Gerard Dougan (Creggan)
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