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St.Mary’s senior footballers have had a fairly turbulent season thus far but Saturday’s game has certainly focused aspirations, this was simply the best team performance of the year – so far. Coming into this fixture All Saints had the bookies favorite tag firmly attached given the teams last two exchanges and the Slemish Park side chasing hard after promotion to top flight next term.

The game got off to a positive start for the blue and amber hoops who found themselves a point to the good after a Johnny McAleese point inside the first minute. However, All Saints wing half forward Michael McCarry responded well to fire past Ryan Doherty on the Rasharkin line to put his side two up. Ballymena’s grip was reduced to the minimum when Eamon McNeill converted a sublime point off the outside of the right peg, a score which settled Rasharkin to open up a two point lead. St.Mary’s corner man Gerard O’Hagan then heaped more pressure on the black and whites when he maneuvered through the rearguard and confidently slotted beyond Paul McCann to raise the green flag. Rasharkin’s Conor McFerran then split the posts twice in as many minutes to send the Dreen men in at half time with a commanding lead. Half time score St.Mary’s 1-6 All Saints 1-2.

The second half was full steam ahead for Rasharkin, the boys rolled up the sleeves and played some top quality possession football through many phases throughout working hard for each other. This game was won in the middle sector through our ability to win "dirty ball” and get it to our runners. All Saints couldn’t cope with Eamon McNeill and Benny Hasson’s penetrating runs through defense scoring and setting up attack after attack.

The final quarter saw Naomh Muire push for home out-scoring All Saints by 4 points to 1, Ryan Lynch pointed on twenty two, Johnny McAleese took his tally to four and Eamon McNeill crowned a man of the man performance with five all from play.    

The sizable Rasharkin support played their part also getting out and cheering on the team.

Well done to the team and management, this is the only way to silent any critics, great result, great performance - hats off!

We face St. Josephs Glenavy in the semifinal at the start of October after they defeated Moneyglass by three points at Creggan on Saturday.

St.Mary’s Rasharkin:- Ryan Doherty, Shane Hasson, Brendan Etherson, Donagh Quigg, Conor Doherty, Conor Hasson, Declan McKay, Benny Hasson and Cahair O’Kane, Ryan Lunch, Thomas Doherty, Eamon McNeill, Gerard O’Hagan, Johnny McAleese and Conor McFerran

Subs used:- Martin McGuckian, Cathal Mooney and Fergus Quigg