Antrim Football League Division 3

Rasharkin 0-13 Ardoyne 1-11

A highly anticipated Division 3 top of the table clash took place at Dreen on Wednesday evening as league leaders Rasharkin hosted second-placed Ardoyne. In a game defined by shifting momentum and dramatic late twists, it was the North Belfast men who ultimately travelled home happy. Despite Rasharkin seemingly doing enough to secure the win after a late second-half surge, poor shooting let the home team down at crucial moments. Ultimately, an outstanding man of the match performance from Ardoyne’s Odhran McKee proved to be the difference. His brilliant score-taking swung the game back in Ardoyne’s favour, culminating in a spectacular two-pointer against the breeze with practically the last kick of the game.

The match began with Rasharkin striking first, as Cormac McMullan opened the scoring with a point from close range. Ardoyne quickly responded when Odhran McKee landed a two-pointer from the sideline, followed shortly by another strong kick from McKee that sailed over the bar into the pavilion end. By the fourteenth minute, McKee found the target again with another two-pointer from outside the D. Rasharkin’s Cormac McMullan answered with a two-pointer of his own, but Ardoyne immediately countered. A high ball driven into the square was fumbled by the Rasharkin goalkeeper, allowing Caolan Hardy to bundle the ball over the line for a crucial goal. Ardoyne continued to press, with McKee making a massive play around the 45-meter line to score with his left foot, before adding another two-pointer from a free kick on twenty-six minutes with his right. Rasharkin managed to pull one back just before the break when Colm Kennedy fisted over a point from the left wing, leaving Ardoyne with a 1-06 to 0-05 lead at half time.

With the breeze at their backs for the second half, Rasharkin created numerous scoring opportunities but were again plagued by inaccuracy. The home side repeatedly opted for long-range two-pointers rather than working the ball closer to the target area, resulting in several wides in the opening ten minutes. However, the home side eventually found their rhythm. Substitute Brian Og O’Neill spun and scored a good point to spark a revival, and James Higgins broke through on the right to fire over and level the game. O’Neill then swung over a great point to put Rasharkin in front, and they could have extended their lead, but a misplaced pass squandered a great scoring chance.

As the game entered its final stages, the tension mounted. Odhran McKee missed a chance to level from a free, but Ardoyne kept the pressure on. Caolan Hardy made a surging run toward goal, only for a Rasharkin defender to get a vital hand in, forcing a 45. McKee expertly curled the 45 over the bar into the wind to cut the deficit to a single point. Rasharkin responded well, executing a nicely worked play that allowed Tiernan O’Boyle to point on twenty-two minutes, and Eamonn McNeill added another from thirty meters out to build their momentum. McKee kept Ardoyne in touch with another converted free to bring the gap back to one. Rasharkin had a chance to seal the game when Oran McMullan broke through on goal, but he was penalized for overcarrying. This set the stage for a dramatic climax. With time expiring, Odhran McKee stepped up to deliver a fantastic two-pointer from a free near the 45 metre line, snatching the victory for Ardoyne and securing the two valuable league points. Rasharkin did have one last chance to salvage the game but a lobbed ball in on the goalmouth was brilliantly flicked away to Ardoyne net minder Oisin Copeland.

The dramatic win brings Ardoyne to within a single point of Rasharkin in the race for the Division 3 league title. The battle for promotion intensifies this coming Sunday, as the league leaders travel to Belfast to face fourth-placed Eire Og, while Ardoyne will look to capitalize on their momentum with a home fixture against Cloughmills at the Cricky.

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