ACFL Division 2

Davitt’s 0-11 Rasharkin 1-8

Photographs: Mark Hasson

A Conor Hasson goal, four minutes into injury time secured a draw for a battling Rasharkin against high flying Davitt’s at Davitt’s Park on Sunday. The sides were level at 0-5 to 0-5 at half time but Sean McKenna’s side looked to have secured the points when they led by three with time almost up.

The Dreen men had battled all the way to stay in contention however but their efforts looked to have been in vain when Hasson got on the end of one last attack and finished to the net.

It was the home side who made the better start as Caomhin Slane fired over a couple of early points before Seamus Ellis opened the visitors account with a point in the 11^th minute. Padraig McPartland edged the home side two in front once more but St. Mary’s came back strongly to hit the next three points of the game through Shane Hasson and two from Eammon McNeill to take the lead with 22 minutes gone.

Aaron Slane came up field from goals to fire over the equaliser in the 25^th minute but Rasharkin were playing some excellent football and Ryan Lynch edged them in front once more as the game edged into first half injury time.

Davitt’s certainly knew they were in a game but they finished the half strongly and Gerard Slane sent over an injury time free to leave the contest all square at the short whistle and all still to play for in the second half.

There had been nothing to separate the protagonists during a keenly contested opening half and the game remained evenly balanced during the third quarter with Jack Scally edging Davitt’s ahead with a point in the third minute and Eammon McNeill responding with a point for the South West side to tie thew contest yet again.

It would be another nine minutes before Davitt’s would add to their second half account as Tony McGrattan edged them into the lead again and then Padraig McParland added another to put them two in front with 17 minutes of the second half gone.

Rasharkin found a reply almost immediately as the excellent Shane Hasson fired over before Aaron Slane stepped out from his goalkeeping berth to restore his side’s two point advantage as both sides battled to gain supremacy.

Ryan Lynch pointed a free in the 23d minute to keep the visitors in touch but Davitt’s efforts seemed to have finally paid off when Padraig McParland pointed a in the 25^th minute and added another as the game moved into time added on to put the city side three in front.

It looked over at this stage but the battling qualities that have been a feature of St. Mary’s this season saw them grab an injury time goal from Conor Hasson to give them a valuable point.

Rasharkin:  1 – Tiernan O’Boyle 2 – Daniel Doherty 3 – Emmet McFerran 4 – Pearse Kelly

5 – Colm Kennedy 6 – Seamus Ellis 7 – Conor Higgins 8 – Ruairi OBoyle 9 – Thomas McMullan 10 – Thomas Doherty 11 – Shane Hasson 12 – Conor Hasson 13 – Eammon McNeill 14 – Conor McKeever 15 – Ryan Lynch

Referee: Paul Burns (Naomh Comhghall)

ACFL Division 2 Reserve

All Saints 3-17 St. Mary’s Ahoghill 4-4

A virtuoso display by All Saints full-forward, Diarmuid ‘Mitch’ McNally helped All Saints to a deserved ten point victory over St. Mary’s Ahoghill in the opening game of the ACFL Division 2 Reserve league at Quinn Park tonight.

The number 14 was unplayable over the hour and finished the game with a personal total 0f 2-6 in a game where the home side always looked like winning after a cagey opening quarter where the visitors led by 1-2 to 1-1.

It was corner-back Shea Neeson who got forward for an early goal for the visitors but when Mitch McNally redirected an Enda Kennedy shot with a flick of his wrist to the net in the 10^th minute to level matters at 1-1 apiece the Ballymena side never looked back.

Enda Kennedy, Diarmuid McNally, Niall Quinn, McNally again and Joe Rocks added unanswered points by the 23d minute to move the home side five ahead and the strong running and pace of the All Saints attack was stretching the Ahoghill men.

‘Mitch’ McNally took an astute pass from Owen Walsh to extend the home side’s lead with a good point on the restart and points from Niall Walsh and McNally again moved All Saints 8 in front and they were threatening to run away with it at this stage.

Ahoghill began to use the long ball into the danger area however and it paid dividends as Ryan Keenan and then Ryan McPeake capitalized on panic in the Ballymena defence with two quick goals that left them trailing by just two points at the end of the third quarter.

All Saints regained their composure and the initiative as McNally fired a daisy cutter to the corner of the net and when Niall Walsh got his side’s third major with ten minutes remaining it looked all over. Ciaran Campbell, McNally, Charlie Metrustry 0-2 and Aidan Scullion all added points to move their side out of site.

To their credit the Cloney men never gave up and were rewarded with a penalty after Shea Neeson was fouled in the small square and the corner back picked himself up to beat Daniel McCoy from the spot to conclude the scoring.

All Saints: 1 Daniel McCoy, 20 Jude Casey, 3 Jack Agnew, 4 Paddy O’Brien, 5 Michael Read 6 Dara Walsh, 7 Conal Killough, 8 Luke O’Rawe, 9 Joe Rocks, 10 Niall Walsh, 11 Eoin Walsh, 12 Darragh Mussen, 13 Charlie Metrustry, 14 Diarmuid McNally, 15 Enda Kennedy.

Subs Used: Reece O’Mullan, Ciaran Campbell, Aidan Scullion,

Ahoghill: 1 Joe Downey, 2 Finbar Graham, Niall Magee, 4 Shea Neeson, 5 Jerard Keenan, 6 Stephen O’Connell, 7 Ben Friel, 8 Dominic Neeson, 9 James Graham, 10 Callum Reynolds, 11 Sean McMahon, 12 Ryan Martin, 13 Ryan Keenan, 14 Aiden Graham, 15 Ryan McPeake, 16 Connor Scullion, 17 John Paul Neeson

Referee: Gerard Dougan (Creggan)

ACFL Division 2

Moneyglass 4-13 Glenavy 0-4

Moneyglass’ relentless start to the season continued last night at Marian Hill with a four goal salvo that saw them claim their latest scalp, St. Joseph’s Glenavy in an entertaining game despite the difficult conditions.

The home side got off to a perfect start when a Connlaodh McCann shot was deflected off a Glenavy defender and finished in the visitors net but the Chapel Hill side responded to this early setback and replied with points from David Nelson, Fergal Henry and Stephen Donne to draw level with 8 minutes gone.

Seanchann Duffin and Colm Duffin for St. Ergnat’s and Ciaran Looney and Fergal Henry for the visitors exchanged further points to leave the contest all square with 17 minutes gone but the game swung in favour of the home side when they were awarded a penalty in the 22^nd minute. Up stepped Seanchann Duffin to beat Gareth Collins from the spot and Dermot McErlain added a point to move Moneyglass four ahead.

The closing stages of the first half belonged to the visitors however as they came storming back with points from Niall McCann, Ciaran Loney, Malachi Doherty and Fergal Henry in reply to one from Duffin for the home side to leave it all to play for in the second half with St. Ergnat’s 2-5 to 0-9 ahead.

Dermot McErlain extended the Moneyglass lead with a point on the restart and when Aidan McErlain got through for their third goal to put a bit of daylight between the sides it looked a long way back for the visitors even at this early juncture.

Seanchann Duffin, Dermot McErlain and Colm Duffin added further points by the 41^st minute to mover St. Ergnat’s nine ahead as the visitors struggled to regain their opening half form. Fergal Duffin finally opened their account with points in the 44^th and 47^th minutes but Moneyglass replied with points from Conor O’Kane and Colm Duffin for the Marian Hill side.

To their credit Glenavy kept battling away and were rewarded when Stephen Doone and Fiontan O’Boyle added points but when Aidan McErlain replied with his second and his side’s fourth goal with four minutes remaining it was well and truly over.

The excellent Henry added a consolation point for St. Joseph’s but Moneyglass finished strongly with points from power house Colm Duffin and substitute Shane Madden for a convincing win and they now remain the only team in all three divisions on full points after five rounds of games.

Moneyglass: 1 Danny McErlain, 2 Luke O’Donnell, 3 Peter McCormick, 4 Callum McStocker, 5 Jack McCoy McCormick 6 Fearghal Duffin, 7 Sean Kelly, 8 Colum Duffin, 9 Niall Boyd, 10 Seanchann Duffin, 11 Dermot McErlain, 12 Miran Neeson, 13 Conor O’Kane, 14 Aidan McErlain, 15 Connlaodh McCann

Glenavy: 1 Gareth Collins, 2 Conor Doherty, 3 Eoin Henry, 4 Oliver Rankin, 5 Patrick Fox, 6 Patrick Gallagher, 7 Matthew Lawlor, 8 Ciaran Loney, 9 Stephen Doone, 10 Fiontan O’Boyle, 11 Malachi Doherty, 12 Ryan Phillips, 13 Niall McCann, 14 Fergal Henry, 15 David Nelson

Referee: Richard Leahy (St. Comgall’s)

ACFL Division 2

Rasharkin  0-7(7)  St Teresas 2-8(14)

Photographs: Mark Hasson

St. Teresa’s recovered from a heavy defeat in Dunloy on Sunday to gain their second brace of points against a Rasharkin team who had run the Cuchullain’s close a couple of weeks ago.

It took 12 minutes for either side to register and It was visitors St. Mary’s who were first to register when Tiernan O’Boyle pointed them ahead after a dour and uneventful opening period as both sides struggled to deal with the blustery conditions.

This score seemed to spark the Glen Road side into life as they replied with points from John Mallon 0-2 and Conor O’Rawe to move two in front by the 20^th minute.

Ryan Lynch replied with a good point for the visitors but the momentum was with the Glen Road men and Anthony Varndell and Phillip Maguire fired over to move the home side three in front with four minutes remaining to the break.

Tiernan O’Boyle closed the gap to two with half time approaching but big full-forward got in for a vital goal for St. Teres’a just before the break with the impressive O’Boyle keeping the visitors hopes alive with a pointed free in first half injury time.

H.T. St. Teresa’s 1-5 Rasharkin 0-4

Rasharkin battled hard to get themselves back into the game but it was St. Teres’s who drew first blood when John Mallon pointed in the 6^th minute with the visitors replying with a good point from Ryan Lynch to keep the gap at four.

John Mallon was influencing matters on the ‘40’ for the West Belfast side and he struck with his second point of the half in the 10^th minute with the visitors struggling to hit the target in the worsening conditions.

It was a further 10 minutes before Shane Hasson split the posts to again give his side a glimmer of hope but once again St. Teresa’s were able to find a response and Mark Small got his name on their score sheet as he pointed with eight minutes remaining.

Ryan Lynch was doing all in his power to keep the Dreen men afloat and his point in the 22^nd minute again closed the gap to four but that was as close as they got with John Erskine putting the game out of reach with his second goal of the game to conclude the scoring.

A good win for St. Teresa’s which moves them onto four points and once again they have shown that if they can get their best team out they are hard to beat on their Glen Road ground.

They were solid at the back throughout with John Mallon impressing on the ‘40’ and big John Erskine in a rick vein of form at the edge of the square getting two goals to add to a great goal he scored in Dunloy on Sunday.

Rasharkin have been turning in descent performances lately without much reward but never reached those levels in this game and will need to get back to their best if they are to get anything from Sunday’s visit to unbeaten Davitt’s while St. Teresa’s face a similar hurdle as they travel out to Crumlin to meet St. James.

St. Teresa’s: 1 Odhran O’Neill, 2 Ryan Mallon, 3 Joseph Rainey, 4 James McGorrian, 5 Conor O‘Rawe, 6 Colm McGoldrick, 7 Liam Gault, 8 Anthony Varndell, 9 Luke Cassin, 10 Phillip Maguire, 11 John Mallon, 12 Paul McGoldrick, 13 Mark Small, 14 John Erskine, 15 Stephen O’Hara

Rasharkin: 1 – Tiernan O’Boyle 2 – Seamus Ellis 3 – Daniel Doherty 4 – Pearse Kelly 5 – Colm Kennedy 6 – Emmet McFerran 7 – Conor Hasson 8 – Ruairi OBoyle 9 – Thomas McMullan 10 – Shane Hasson 11 – Ryan Lynch 12 – Andrew Hasson 13 – Thomas Doherty 14 – Conor McKeever 15 – Conor McFerran

SUBS:

Eamon McNeill for Thomas Doherty 

Cahir Henderson for Andrew Hasson 

Jack Quinn for Conor McFerran  

ACFL Division 2

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass 0-10 St. Mary’s Rasharkin 1-6

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass made it four wins from four starts in the ACFL Division 2 but they were given a late scare by newly promoted St. Mary’s Rasharkin at Marian Hill on Sunday. The visitors led 0-5 to 0-3 after 23 minutes and were full value for their lead but late points from Conall Prenter, Colm Duffin and Dermot McErlain edged the home side into a 0-6 to 0-5 half time lead.

St. Ergnat’s pushed on in the second half with Colm Duffin the star performer as he fired over four points (2 frees) to leave his side looking comfortable with five minutes remaining but the Dreen side struck with a late goal from Emmet McFerran to ensure a nervous finish for the hosts.

Niall Boyd and Jack McCoy fired over early in the game to give the hosts a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after a cagey 11 minutes and it was 14 minutes before Ryan Lynch split the posts for the visitors to close the gap to one.

Tiernan O’Boyle came forward from his goalkeeping berth to level the scores before Shane Hasson pointed an 18^th minute free to give the visitors the lead for the first time.

Seanachann Duffin for Moneyglass and Conor McFerran for Rasharkin exchanged further points and when Thomas McMullan fired over with seven minutes remaining to the break, the Dreen side were two in front and edging the exchanges at this stage of the contest.

It was St. Ergnat’s who wrestled back the initiative in the period leading up to the break however with Prenter, Duffin from a free and McErlain adding unanswered points to leave them leading 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.

Could Rasharkin respond again? Was the question at the start of the second half but the answer was a resounding no as the hosts tightened up at the back and slowly they began to put further daylight between the sides.

Colm Duffin pointed St. Ergnat’s further ahead from a free in the 7^th minute and the big mid-fielder was to have a massive influence on the outcome as the game progressed. Duffin added another with 12 minutes of the second half gone as both sides pulled men behind the ball.

Rasharkin were now struggling to put meaningful attacks together but making life difficult for the Moneyglass attack but it was that man Duffin who breeched the defensive wall to fire over the first point of the half from play in the 47^th minute.

The same player added his fourth point of the half and his fifth in total to move his side five in front with five minutes remaining and it looked all over at this stage but Rasharkin refused to through in the towel and finished strongly.

It seemed irrelevant when keeper Tiernan O’Boyle fired over his second free of the game in the 59^th minute to open the visitors second half account but when Emmet McFerran finished to the net in their next attack the situation had taken a dramatic turn.

With both sets of managers looking anxiously at their watches and Rasharkin attempting to complete the come-back of all come-backs Eamon McAuley’s full time whistle came as something of a relief to the home side.

Moneyglass: will be happy with the result but will surely reflect on the fact that they nearly let it slip at the death but they now sit at the top of the table, the only side in the division with full points from 4 starts and look capable of maintaining that position as the season progresses.

Moneyglass: 1 Danny McErlain, 2 Lukie O’Donnell, 3 Peter McCormick, Callum McStocker, 5 Patrick McCormick, 6 Fearghal Duffin, 7 Jack McCoy, 8 Colum Duffin, 9 Niall Boyd, 10 Seanchann Duffin, 11 Dermot McErlain, 12 Miran Neeson, 13 Connor O’Kane, 14 Conaill Prenter, 15 Tyler Cassidy

Rasharkin: 1 Tiernan O’Boyle, 2 Conor Doherty, 3 Daniel Doherty, 4 Pearce Kelly, 5 Conor Hasson, 6 Emmet McFerran, 7 Colm Kennedy, 8 Thomas McMullan, 9 Ruairi O’Boyle, 10 Thomas Doherty, 11 Shane Hasson, 12 Conor McKeever, 13 Ryan Lynch, 14 Conor McFerran, 15 Andrew Hasson,

Referee: Eamon McAuley (Cargin)