ACFL Division 3

Rasharkin  9-15 Wolfe Tones 0-9

Rasharkin’s relentless march towards the division 3 title continues and it seems that no one can stop them. Cardinal O’Donnell’s will have other ideas as they sit a point behind the men from Dreen but with a game more played.

St. Mary’s sit on 28 points from 14 starts while their nearest challengers, O’D’s have 27 from 15 starts with that defeat coming at MacRory Park back on the 26^th April to the Rasharkin men and their meeting in the South West next Wednesday night will go a long way to deciding the destination of the league title.

On Wednesday night it took St. Mary’s a while to get going at Valley Parade with the home side kicking the opening two points through Gerard McDonnell and Vincent Lismore and when Rasharkin came back with a point from Tiernan O’Boyle and a goal from Eamonn McNeill the Tones replied again to close the gap to one through McDonnell.

Slowly though the visitors began to settle into their rhythm as Eammon McNeill 0-2, Fearghal Keneddy and Ryan Lynch struck points and when Lynch followed with his side’s second goal at the end of the opening quarter the league leaders never looked back.

Suddenly gaps began to appear in the Wolfe Tones’ rear guard as Oran McMullan, Ryan Lynch (penalty) and Oisin Casey added further goals and by half time Rasharkin were out of site as McNeill added two further majors to put his side 7-8 to 0-3 ahead.

Rasharkin began the second half on the front foot again with unanswered points from Ryan Lynch, Oisin Casey, Killian O’Boyle, Ruairi O’Boyle and Fearghal Kennedy before Declan O’Neill and Jonah Magill replying with points for the city side.

Antrim’s newest club were enjoying their best spell in the game at this stage and they matched Rasharkin point for point for a time before losing two players to Black cards and Rasharkin put the game to bed in the closing stages with further goals from Oisin Casey and Jack Quinn.

O’Donnell’s visit Dreen next Wednesday night and nothing other than a win for the MacRory Park side will suffice. A win for the league leaders would put matters to bed but there was only a goal between the sides in the first game back in April and the Whiterock Road side will travel believing they can keep their promotion hopes alive.

Rasharkin: 1 – Andrew Hasson, 2 – Pearse Kelly, 3 – Emmet McFerran, 4 – Donagh Quigg, 5 – Fearghal Kennedy, 6 – Conor Hasson, 7 – Fergus Quigg, 8 – Cathal Mooney, 9 – Ruairi OBoyle, 10 – Oran McMullan, 11 – Thomas McMullan, 12 – Oisin Casey, 13 – Tiernan O’Boyle, 14 – Eammon McNeill, 15 – Ryan Lynch

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)

ACFL Division 3

St Comghall’s 1-12 Rasharkin 6-9

A Ryan Lynch hat-trick and further goals from Donagh Quigg, Oisin Casey and Tiernan O’Boyle kept the Rasharkin promotion race on course when they visited Antrim on Saturday evening to take on Naomh Comhghall in a game that certainly produced a barrow full of scores.

Lynch, who has been in fine form since his return to the side this season led the way against an Antrtim town side who were in descent scoring score themselves but were too easily penetrated at the other end.

St Comghall’s raced into an early 3 point before Shane Hasson slipped over Rasharkin first score from a free.

The town again pushed it out to 3 before corner back Donagh Quigg hit a much needed major to leave the scores level.

Anothe point for St Comghall’s brought another leveller from Oran McMullan and at this stage of proceedings there was nothing between the sides

Rasharkin began to get on top however and Oisin Casey popped in behind the defence to slip the ball past St Comghall’s  keeper the gap would widen when referee Ryan O’Reilly signalled for a penalty that was sent to the net by Ryan lynch for his first of the evening.

Rasharkin were now 7 clear and looked to be in control but 3 unanswered points from the home side brought deficit back to 4.

Naomh Comhghall were playing some good football and a Shane Hasson pointed free in the 27th minute brought a late rally from the home side who finished the half with 3 unanswered point to leave just one in it at the break.

Half time: Rasharkin 3-03 St Comghall’s 0-11

So with the game finally balanced, the next 30 minutes would test Rasharkin’s resolve and they son faced a more daunting test  with only 5 minutes of second half gone as the home side were awarded a penalty that they tucked away to move into a two point lead.

Rasharkin held their nerve however and replied with had points from a Shane Hasson free and another from substitute Tiernan O’ Boyle to level the scores and these scored seemed to spark the league leaders into life.

Tiernan O’Boyle was having an impact since his introduction and he sent a 45 straight between the posts before Ryan lynch hit the top corner of the Naomh Comhghall net and points from Lynch asnd O’Boyle moved Rasharkin further in front.

The momentum was now very much with the men from Dreen and with 53 minutes gone they were awarded a penalty and again that man Ryan lynch stepped up to apply the finish and complete his hat-trick.

Shane Hasson converted another free before Tiernan O’Boyle sent a rifling shot to the net which would prove to be St. Mary’s final score.  

It was done and dusted at this stage however with Naomh Comhghall replying with a consolation point in injury time and Rasharkin’s unbeaten run in tact following this 12 point win.

Rasharkin scorers:

Donagh Quigg 1-00, Oisin Casey 1-00, Ryan Lynch 3-01, Tiernan ‘O’Boyle 1-03 (1f), Shane Hasson 0-04 (4f’s), Oran McMullan 0-01

Rasharkin: 1 Andrew Hasson, 2 Pearse Kelly, 3 Daniel Doherty, 4 Donagh Quigg, 5 Fearghal Kennedy, 6 Conor Hasson, 7 Fergus Quigg, 8 Cathal Mooney, 9 Ruairi O’Boyle, 10 Shane Hasson, 11 Thomas McMullan, 12 Oran McMullan, 13 0isin Casey, 14 Eamonn McNeill,

15 Ryan lynch

Rasharkin subs:

Cormac McMullan for Oran McMullan 34 mins

Tiernan O’Boyle for Thomas McMullan 34 mins

Cormac McMullan

Tiernan O’Boyle

Jack Quinn

Killian O’Boyle

Colm Kennedy

ACFL Division 3

Rasharkin 3-20 Na Piarsaigh 1-5

It’s still early days but on the evidence of what I witnessed on Sunday, St. Mary’s Rasharkin are on course to go through their division 3 league campaign without dropping a point.

Na Piarsaigh, who had been going well themselves were the latest victims of the league leaders at Dreen on Sunday and the home side had put this one to bed as early as the 16^th minute with goals from Ryan Lynch and Shane Hasson.

They led by 2-5 to 0-1 at this stage and some of the football they displayed was right out of the top drawer as they moved the ball through the hands at speed and their intelligent movement opened up the visitors defence, time and again while their high press forced turn over after turn over.

Eamon McNeill got Rasharkin on their way from a pointed free in the second minute and then fielded a Na Piarsaigh kick-out before putting Ryan Lynch through on goal and the big man finished with aplomb.

The impressive McNeill added his second point and Shane Hasson pointed a free to move St. Mary’s 1-2 to 0-0 ahead by the 9^th minute as the visitors struggled to put a meaningful attack together.

Their best player on the day, Sean Moreland finally got them off the mark with a point in the 10^th minute but two minutes later Eamon McKenna in the Na Piarsaigh goals had to be at his best to deny Eammon McNeill at the expense of a point.

The Dreen Machine continued to attack and Donagh Quigg got forward from corner back to send over and when Shane Hasson got on the end of a good build up to rifle home their second goal they were 10 in front.

Na Piarsaigh were still giving it everything but with little success but Stephen Fitzsimmons fired over their second point from distance in the 19^th minute to give them a glimmer of hope.

Back came the ‘Hoops’ however and Ryan Lynch pointed a close range free after the ball had been moved forward for dissent  and further points from Eammon McNeill and Killian O’Boyle in reply to a fine point from Ciaran McCavana had the home side 2-9 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

With the wind now behind them Na Piarsaigh would have hoped for a change of fortunes in the second half but it was Rasharkin who continued where they had left off as they hit three points in quick succession through O’Boyle, Lynch and McNeill.

The visitors opened their second half account through a Daniel Magee free but McNeill replied with his second of the half and Ryan Lynch fired over after claiming a ‘Mark’ as the one way traffic towards the visitor’s goal continued.

Further minors from Eammon McNeill and Ryan Lynch moved the home side 2-15 to 0-5 ahead by the 16^th minute, the Na Piarsaigh point coming from a Stephen Fitzsimmons free and it had become an exercise in damage limitation at this stage.

The league leaders were in no mood to rest on their laurels however as Ryan Lynch, Ruairi O’Boyle and Lynch again added point before the hard working Sean Moreland pointed at the other end.

Moreland was still busting a gut and looked to have been rewarded for his work when he cut in from the right and fired past the advancing Andrew Hasson but his shot was saved on the line by Emmet McFerran and cleared to safety.

That was as good as it got for the North Belfast side and Rasharkin finished as they had started with Ryan Lynch stroking over two more points and Eammon McNeill putting the icing on a five star performance with a splendid late goal.

This win puts Rasharkin five points ahead of second place O’Donnell’s, who recorded a good win over St. Comgall’s in Antrim and the MacRory Park side do have a game in hand and still have Rasharkin to play at Dreen.

Laochra Loch Lao continued their good form with a win over Eire Og and move into third place with Na Piarsaigh now in fourth after yesterday’s defeat.

Rasharkin: 1 Andrew Hasson, 2 Pearce Kelly, 3 Emmet McFerran, 4 Donagh Quigg, 5 Fearghal Kennedy, 6 Conor Hasson, 7 Fergus Quigg, 8 Cathal Mooney, 9 Ruairi O’Boyle, 10 Shane Hasson, 11 Thomas McMullan, 12 Oran McMullan, 13 Killian O’Boyle, 14 Eammon McNeill 15 Ryan Lync

Na Piarsaigh:1 Eamonn McKenna, 2 Darren O’Neill, 3 Tom McCall, 4 Jim Collins, Philip Murray, 6 Aodhan McCavanagh, 7 Nathan Gorman, 8 Ruairi Bannon, 9 Piaras Donaghy, 10 Ciaran McCavana, 11 Stephen Fitzsimmons, 12 Sean Moreland, 13 Michael Girvan, 25 Michael Bannon, 15 James Smith

Referee: Richie Leahy

ACFL Division 3

Rasharkin 4-10 St. Agnes 0-6

The Rasharkin bandwagon keeps on rolling and on Sunday at Dreen it was the turn of St. Agnes to feel the force of the division 3 juggernaut as they made it 11 wins from 11 starts as they continue their relentless journey back to division 2.

The Aggies were just about hanging in there as half time approached as they trailed 1-5 to 0-3 but when youngster, Oisin Casey got in for his side’s second goal as the game went into time added on, they looked in trouble.

It was the men from Dreen who opened the scoring from an Oran McMullan point with Ronan Carroll replying for the visitors from a free to draw level after 6 minutes but St. Mary’s began to settle and hit three on the bounce through Shane Hasson, Ryan Lynch and Oran McMullan.

The Aggies first point from play and their second of the game came from that man Carroll in the 13^th minute and at this stage there was only two between the sides but it brought a decisive response from the ‘Hoops’.

Eammon McNeill struck with the game’s opening goal in the 15^th minute after Thomas ‘Tucker’ McMullan won possession and sent the number 14 through on goal and he played a sharp 1-2 with Shane Hasson before finishing from close range.

Oisin Casey added a point before Roan Carroll brought his and his side’s total to 0-3 with a point in the 30^th minute to close the gap to five and the visitors would probably have settled for that going into the dressing room but there was one more play remaining in the half.

Oisin Casey has emerged in recent weeks as a real find for the home side and he continued to build his reputation when he got through on goal and fired through keeper Colum Carroll’s legs to leave eight between the sides at the change of ends.

Half time score: Rasharkin  2-5(11)  St Agnes 0-3(3)

To their credit St. Agnes did better at the start of the second half with Cormac McBride replying to Eammon McNeill’s opening point but when Ryan Lynch fired home the Dreen side’s third goal after 7 minutes it was as good as over.

The city side kept battling away and replied with points from David McGaharan and a great point from Paul McClenaghan in the 11^th minute but the league leaders were always able to respond with Shane Hasson splitting the posts in the 14^th minute.

Ryan Lynch added two more before St. Agnes best player, Ronan Carroll struck their final point from play with five minutes remaining but again it brought a strong reaction from the home side.

Jack Quinn got his name on the score sheet as he pointed a free and Donagh Quigg was rewarded for his hard work over the hour when he scored his side’s fourth goal of the game in the 29^th minute to conclude the scoring.

Another clinical performance from a Rasharkin team who suffered relegation last year but have set about making an immediate return to the higher division and on the evidence of what we have seen to date that project is well on course.

Rasharkin: 1 – Andrew Hasson, 2 – Pearse Kelly, 3 – Emmet McFerran, 4 – Daniel Doherty, 5 – Fearghal Kennedy, 6 – Donagh Quigg, 7 – Fergus Quigg, 8 – Ruairi OBoyle, 9 – Cathal Mooney

10 – Oran McMullan, 11 – Thomas McMullan, 12 – Oisin Casey, 13 – Ryan Lynch, 14 – Eammon McNeill, 15 – Shane Hasson

Subs Used:

Cormac McMullan, Jack Quinn, Killian O’Boyle, Colm Kennedy,Pearse McTague

St. Agnes: 1 Colum Carroll, 2 Patrick Carroll, 3 Mark Caldwell, 4 Killian McCormick, 5 Cormac McCann, 6 Declan Crummey, 7 Paul McClenaghan, 8 David Quigley, 9 James Halleron, 10 David McGaharan, 11 Conal Turley, 12 Cormac McBride, 13 Neil Gillespie, 14 Ronan Carroll, 15 Kevin Grieve.

Subs: 17 Kealan McAllister, 18 Peter McCullough, 19 Mark McLaughlin, 20 Paddy Toner

Referee: Richard Leahy

ACFL Division 3

Laochra Loch Lao 0-4 Rasharkin 0-17

Rasharkin maintained their relentless run towards the Division 3 title when they travelled to Belfast on Wednesday night and recorded a resounding win over Laochra Loch Lao – their 10^th win on the trot.

They got off to a perfect start when a long ball into Eamonn McNeill from Cathal Mooney was off loaded to Ryan Lynch and the big man finished with the outside of his boot for the game’s opening point in the second minute.

Laochra replied with a point from Conor McGucken but Rasharkin were in buoyant mood as they hit three on the trop from Eamonn McNeill (0-2) and Ryan Lynch whose return to the side in recent weeks has bolstered their attack.

The home side were fighting hard to gain a foothold and they replied through Niall MacAodha and PJ O’Prey to close the gap to two with 17 minutes gone and we looked to have a game on our hands but that as close as they got.

Back came the men from Dreen and that man Lynch hit his third point of the half and the same player struck another in the 19^th minute after being set up by Ruairi O’Boyle.

The scores dried up after that but it was the visitors who were to finish with the best point of the half when Ryan Lynch hit another excellent effort from a sideline free from out on the left as St. Mary’s started to impose their authority on the game to lead 0-7 to 0-3 at the break.

There was still work to do as the game got under way for the second half but Rasharkin were in no mood to take their foot of the pedal as Eamonn McNeill pointed after 18 seconds and Donagh Quigg and McNeill again moved their side seven ahead by the third minute.

Laochra Loch Lao had been under the cosh for a time but they replied with a point from Connor McGucken in the 6^th minute to momentarily relieve the pressure but McGucken’s point would be their last score of the game.

Despite a Black card to Cathal Mooney, the league leaders stepped it up another gear to produce football that their opponents just couldn’t live with as Ryan Lynch, Fearghal Kennedy, Lynch again and youngster, Oisin Casey added points by the 22^nd minute and it was as good as over at this stage.

Rasharkin turned on the style in the run in to the final whistle with Shane Hasson, Eamonn McNeill from a free (after a blistering run from defence by Pearce Kelly who was fouled), Oisin Casey and McNeill again concluded the scoring to leave the visitors convincing winners.

Rasharkin top the division with 20 points from 10 starts with Peases four points behind them on 16 points from 11 starts and O’Donnell’s handily placed in third with 15 points from 9 starts and these two look best placed to challenge St. Mary’s for the title.

Rasharkin: 1 – Andrew Hasson, 2 – Pearse Kelly, 3 – Emmet McFerran, 4 – Conor Hasson, 5 – Daniel Doherty, 6 – Donagh Quigg, 7 – Fergus Quigg, 8 – Ruairi OBoyle, 9 – Cathal Mooney, 10 – Fearghal Kennedy, 11 – Thomas McMullan, 12 – Shane Hasson, 13 – Ryan Lynch, 14 – Eammon McNeill, 15 – Killian O’Boyle

Subs Used:

Oisin Casey

Colm Kennedy

Cormac McMullan

Oran McMullan

Pearse McTague

Referee: Eamon Hamill