Fixtures & Results 2013 - ACFL Div 2

St.Mary’s gain the verdict at Fr Maginn Park

Con Magees Glenravel hosted near neighbours St.Mary’s Rasharkin in round three of the All County Football League Division Two on Sunday past. The visitors got away to the brightest start and lead by two after five minutes; however, the St.Mary’s men hit a barron phase midway through the first period and seemed to have left their shooting boots at Dreen. Meanwhile the homeside chipped away and found themselves in front after twenty minutes with fine points from Conor McNeill and Declan Traynor (2). Ryan Lynch levelled matters for Rasharkin, but Traynor almost immediately restored the lead for the green and white men a minute later. Two St.Mary’s scores in the run up to half time saw Rasharkin go in at the interval with a slender one point advantage. Con Magees started the second period at lightening speed and were back on terms in the opening seconds through Declan Traynor. Both sides enjoyed much possession throughout the third quarter but the scoreboard operator hadn’t to rise until Rasharkin’s Paul Doherty pointed on fourteen minutes. Johnny McAleese gave the blue and amber hoops a real grip of the tie after seventeen minutes when he bagged the games only goal to open up a four point lead. Glenravel’s Conor McNeill reduced arrears to McAleese’s three pointer, before the same player chalked up another with one minute on the clock to leave a nail biting finish. The travelling supporters were relieved to hear the Sean Mc Atamney’s full time whistle to leave Con Magees Glenravel 0-7 St.Mary’s Rasharkin 1-6

Con Magees Glenravel club extended an invitation to their local neighbours St Marys to participate in a pre-match three course lunch prior to this fixture, the excellent fundraising initiative which is more common in rugby circles was an astounding success. This venture will surely become more common in GAA circles as clubs such as Con Magees lead the way; congratulations must go to their industrious organising committee.

These rival clubs with proud tradition have locked horns many times down through the years, albeit haven’t met in the All County League since 2005, they did however clash in the O’Cahan Cup two years previous with St Marys winning on these last two outings. 

A blustery Fr Maginn Park saw the visitors play with substantial wide advantage in the first half defending the pavilion end as Tir na nOg club man Sean McAtamney started proceedings. Rasharkin’s Johnny McAleese was quick to get the visitors off to the mark and landed a point inside the first minute. The Dreen men impressed in the early throws and split open the Glenravel rearguard on several occasions, Thomas Doherty doubled Rasharkin’s lead after five minutes. The resilient wing half back fired the ball between the sticks with assistance from Enda McFerran and Johnny McAleese.  The homeside got off the mark after eight minutes when Conor McNeill pointed from the set piece after Declan Traynor was fouled. Rasharkin’s wayward shooting and poor decision making upfront saw their wides tally soar much to the frustration of their bench. The homeside went from one down to one up after twenty minutes through two points from Declan Traynor, the first involving quick interchange of play with Kieran McKeown who was having a positive impact for Con Magees with his incredible supporting runs. 

Ryan Lynch was the next Rasharkin man to enter his name onto the score sheet, he received a clever quick free from Johnny McAleese following an award for a foul on Benny Hasson, who seemed to be well marshalled by the Con Magees men for most of the game. Glenravel’s full forward Declan Traynor pushed his side in front five minutes before the interval. He skilfully scooped the ball on the run, soloed forward and split the posts with a fine score, much to the raptures of the large home support. 

The Dreen men pulled the tie all square for the second time through a well taken score by Johnny McAleese.  Declan McKay completed the action of the half when he drilled between the uprights from a free after Paul Doherty was fouled enroute to goal.  Half time score Con Magees 0-4 St Marys 0-5.

Con Magees manager Ronan O’Donnell’s intentions were well demonstrated in the opening exchanges of the second half, quick ball from David Higgins to Traynor paid dividends when the inspiring full forward watched his effort sail over the Rasharkin’s crossbar to equalise once more. St.Mary’s manager Dominic Kelly introduced fresh legs and reshuffled his point of attack to deal with the adverse weather conditions in the early throws of the second period as both sides enjoyed plenty of possession but each defence systems dealt with the alternate attacks. Paul Doherty led the way for Rasharkin and nudged the visitors in front midway through the half with good support play from Shane Hasson and Declan McKay. St Marys opened up a four point lead after seventeen minutes when Johnny McAleese latched onto a Peader McMullan shot and dispatched the ball past Niall Black on the Glenravel line to raise the green flag. 

Con Magees’ response was swift, Conor McNeill who impressed for much of the game, fired over with eight minutes still on the clock. St Marys may have been left to rue wayward shooting in the closing stages as their wides tally reached double figures, however, time ran out for the homeside but not before McNeill reduced arrears to two points leaving a nervous climax. St.Mary’s held on to collect all points on offer from their third outing on a final scoreline Con Magees 0-7 St Marys 1-6.

Con Magees Glenravel: Niall Black, Brian O’Neill, Martin Mulholland, Mark O’Connor, Aidan McCafferty, Alastair McKeown, Joe Scullion, David Higgins and Conor Reid, Declan Diamond, Kieran McKeown, Killian McCambridge, Conor McNeill (0-3), Declan Traynor (0-4) and Gerard O’Mullan

Subs: Gareth McKeown, Aaron Smiley and David Burt

St.Mary’s Rasharkin: Donal McLernon, Mark Hasson, Adrian Scullion, Dominic McFerran, Thomas Doherty(0-1), Cahir O’Kane, Paddy Hasson, Benny Hasson and Brendan Etherson, Shane Hasson, Ryan Lynch (0-1), Enda McFerran, Declan McKay (0-1), Johnny McAleese (1-2) and Paul Doherty (0-1).

Subs: Philip Quinn, Peader McMullan and Connor Gribben

Referee: Sean McAtamney (Tir na nOg)

Man of the match:

Con Magees impressed for large periods of the fixture with their young charges well instructed by manager Ronan O’Donnell. Former county star Martin Mulholland deserves special mention; the inspirational full back still brings a lot to this vibrant Con Magees outfit. They had good performances from Aidan McCafferty, David Higgins, Alastair McKeown, Conor Reid, Kieran McKeown, Conor McNeill and Declan Traynor. 

On the other side St Mary’s had good performances from Adrian Scullion, Dominic McFerran, Thomas Doherty, Cahair O’Kane, Shane Hasson, Johnny McAleese and Paul Doherty.  But Benny Hasson gets the nod in this section with an impressive display in the middle of the field.  Benny’s discipline and tolerance was well tested as the big midfielder received much attention from the Con Magees’ men.