Fixtures & Results 2012 - O'Cahan Cup

O’Cahan Cup Holders ousted at first hurdle

Rasharkin’s senior footballers got the new season off to a disappointing start when they travelled to Aldergrove in defence of their O’Cahan Cup. These sides haven’t met since August 2010 when the Dreen men came away two point winners in the quarter final of the Intermediate Football Championship. However, Division two side Aldergrove with home advantage would be hoping to cause an upset, as they did in 2009 in the same competition.  

The visitors were first to make a mark on the score sheet with a pointed free from Johnny McAleese after five minutes. McAleese obliged from the set piece four minutes later to settle Rasharkin into the fixture. Aldergrove playing up the hill in the first half struggled to get out of their own half for long periods. St.Mary’s dominance was beginning to show when McAleese added his third point on twelve minutes.

Aldergrove’s wing half back Chris O’Kane broke the duck for the home side from a free after fourteen minutes but Rasharkin gained possession from the kickout and split the posts to restore their three point lead. Eamon McNeill increased their lead to four once more as the home side looked shell shocked. The Dreen men squandered a few chances in front of goal with wayward shooting and rebounding off the upright. Aldergrove keeper Shane O’Neill pulled off a brilliant save when left one on one with Eamon McNeill on twenty minutes.

Aldergrove’s Fergal Burke and Rasharkin’s Eamon O’Boyle traded points before the half time break to send the visitors in with a four point advantage.

St.James manger JC Delvin’s half time talk had an instant impact; the home side were back on terms inside the opening two minutes of the half through a well taken goal from Jimmy Henry and a point from centre forward Burke. Aldergrove, now playing down the hill, went from four down to two up when Fergal Burke fired over back to back points mid way through the second half.

Johnny McAleese hauled St.Mary’s back into the fixture after nineteen minutes when he slotted over a forty yard free from the ground. However, Chris McSteen restored the two point cushion two minutes later. Rasharkin’s Eamon McNeill left the minimum between the teams with seven minutes on the clock. Man of the match Burke won a free two minutes from time and made no mistake from the set piece.

Aldergrove second half substitute Andy Flood put the game beyond any doubt when he finished an impressive move to the back of the Rasharkin net giving keeper Ryan Doherty no chance. Match referee Martin Gavigan called time after the resultant kick out, giving the home side a well deserved five point victory.

Good Luck to St.James Aldergrove, who now travel to Cuchullians Dunloy in the Quarter final as the North Antrim side saw off the challenges of St.Enda’s.

Rasharkin: Ryan Doherty, Cahair O’Kane, Sean Hasson, Dominic McFerran, Thomas Doherty, Duirmuid Quinn, Philip Quinn (Capt), Brendan Etherson and Cathal Mooney, Johnny McAleese (0-5), Eamon McNeill (0-1), Eamon O’Boyle (0-1), Joey Quinn, Joey Patton and Peader McMullan.

Subs: Declan McKay for Joey Quinn, Shane Hasson for Joey Quinn and Aidan McMullan for Philip Quinn.

Referee: Martin Gavigan (St.Mary’s Ahoghill)