GRAHAM TARMAC JFC Final Preview
St. Mary’s Rasharkin v Eire Og
Friday night’s Junior Football Championship final at Dunsilly brings together two sides who need no introduction. St. Mary’s Rasharkin and Eire Og from Derriaghy have crossed swords many times over recent years in Division 3 of the ACFL with Rasharkin holding the bragging rights from recent encounters.
There wasn’t a lot between them when the sides met in Dreen in the early stages of the 2026 league campaign with Rasharkin emerging winners on a night where poor finishing by the visitors might have denied them an away win.
As it transpired St. Mary’s faced Eire Og at Woodlands on the day they clinched the Division 3 title but the Derriaghy men fielded much under strength on that occasion and were merely fulfilling a fixture.
Both sides were drawn in separate groups in the Group stage of this year’s championship with Rasharkin emerging winners of Group 1 with wins over Laochra Loch Lao, Pearses and St. Malachy’s to qualify for an automatic place and a home venue for their semi-final.
O’Donnell’s were their opponents in Dreen for that one and provided the South West side with a stern test with St. Mary’s eventually emerging 3-11 to 1-11 winners thanks to an early Eamonn McNeill and a late Brian Og O’Neill goal with the score-line slightly flattering them.
Action from Eire Og’s semi-final win over Ardoyne
Eire Og faced a tougher journey on their way to this year’s decider, recording two win from three outings to finish level with Ardoyne in Group 2 but the Kickham’s superior score difference saw them top the group.
As a result Ardoyne had automatic qualification and a home venue for the semi-final while Eire Og faced Laochra Loch Lao at Colaiste Feirste but turned in a sterling performance to emerge 3-16 to 1-13 quarter-final winners.
The Derriaghy side were then drawn away to Ardoyne, who had beaten them in the Group stages, in the semi-final and in a splendid contest emerged 2-8 to 1-9 winners with goals from Brendan Shannon and Mark Graham paving the way to a great victory.
St. Mary’s Rasharkin won the Antrim Junior Football Championship as recently as 2023 when they defeated O’Donnell’s at Dunsilly in the final
Rasharkin vanquished the demons of their Junior Final heartbreak two seasons previous with a narrow two-point victory over a valiant O’Donnells outfit
In a game which was littered with superb scores and huge hits, it was perhaps the two men between the sticks who shone the brightest with both Connor Murphy and Andrew Hasson putting in colossal performances in the number one shirt with an array of miraculous saves throughout the sixty.
Hasson has been figuring much further outfield this season and is an intricate part of the Rasharkin attack with the youthful St. Mary’s taking on a different look in performance and personnel to the 2023 winning side.
Under the guidance of Cathal McMullan, Paddy Kelly and their backroom team, a number of young players have stepped up successfully to claim the Blue & Amber jersey but the side still retains an influencing backbone of experience.
The experienced Ryan Doherty has returned to replace Hasson in nets while Liam Quigg, Fergus Quigg, Fearghal Kennedy, Cormac and Oran McMullan, James Higgins and Colm Kennedy and are amongst the young players participating in their first final.
Pearse Kelly, Andrew Hasson, Eamonn McNeill, Brian Og O’Neill and Tiernan O’Boyle add experience and potential scoring threat to a good Rasharkin side who will probably start as slight favourites.
James Higgins in action for Rashasrkin in their semi-final win over O’Donnell’s
Eire Og aiming for Championship glory
Fifteen years have passed since Éire Óg last stood on the brink of Junior Championship glory, heartbreakingly denied by the narrowest of margins against O’Donnell’s in Casement Park. Twenty-five years have slipped by since the club last lifted the trophy, a famous triumph over St Malachy’s that remains etched in the memory of all who wear the red and white.
Under the stewardship of new manager Red Thompson, the Ógs have breathed new life into their ambitions. A good league campaign saw them secure a top-four finish, producing a string of performances that showcased the talent, determination and spirit running through this squad. At full strength, they have proven themselves a match for anyone.
Their road to the final has been anything but straightforward. Victories over Cloughmills and O’Donnell’s in the group stages laid strong foundations before a setback against Ardoyne tested their resolve. The response was emphatic. A commanding nine-point victory over Laochra Loch Lao at Coláiste Feirste secured a semi-final rematch with Ardoyne, where Éire Óg rose to the occasion. Inspired displays from the Dixon brothers, Jarlath Devlin, Conor McKenna and Lorcan McIlroy helped the Ógs emerge from a fierce battle and book their place in the decider.
On Friday, beneath the floodlights of Dunsilly, Éire Óg will walk onto the biggest stage the club has seen in years. They arrive carrying momentum and belief. At the heart of this team stands a core of experienced players who have journeyed together through the club’s juvenile ranks. The Erskine and Donnelly brothers, Ciaran Rice, Conor McKenna, Conor Cochrane and Jarlath Devlin embody the dedication and pride that have driven Éire Óg’s resurgence.
The dream that has burned for twenty-five years is now within touching distance. The Ógs stand ready to write a new chapter in the club’s history and bring the championship cup home to St Anne’s.
A large crowd is expected at Dunsilly on Friday night for what should be a real cracker with Rasharkin starting as favourites by virtue of those recent league wins but championship is a different ball game and expect a hungry Eire Og to push them to the pins of their collar.
