Fixtures & Results 2013 - ACHL Div 3

St.Mary’s Rasharkin played host to Emmetts Cushendun in Round 11 of the All County Hurling League Division Three on Sunday past. The innovative Rasharkin club was making the best of the poor weather conditions and had a full Fun Weekend of activity planned which commenced with a very successful Duathlon, 10K race, 25K cycle and 5K Fun run on Friday past. This hurling clash was the headline of the day’s events.

The Glensmen enjoyed a five point win back in April in first league encounter and since then have been taking positive strides towards promotion to the second division under the stewardship of Dominic McQuillan. St.Mary’s on the other hand are sitting mid table seeking valuable home league points and a solid performance in the run into Championship season.

Oisins Glenariffe clubman Malachy Leech was officiating on this occasion and was swift in getting procedures underway.

The visitors were first out of the traps and had the sliotar in the back of the newly installed nets inside the first two minutes. Conleith McNeill delivered long using wind advantage; Eoin McQuillan was on hand to collect possession, round his marker and fire home to raise the first green flag of the afternoon. McNeill, who was the provider for the goal, chipped in with a score of his own two minutes later from the set piece before Cushendun’s corner forward Pearce Bannon gave the Glensmen the perfect start when he split the posts from deep on the left hand side.

The homeside had chances earlier on to make a difference but it wasn’t until the ninth minute when wing half forward Aidan Darragh opened their account. Darragh made no mistake converting a forty five yard free when Kevin Agnew was steam rolled by Niall McAuley. Match referee Malachy Leech deemed this challenge as dangerous play, befitting of the first yellow card of the evening. The visitors then pushed themselves further in front after twelve when Conleith McNeill’s clever sideline ball found Dominic McQuillan who fired over his shoulder from fifty yards.

St Mary’s fresh faced corner forward Donagh Quigg then got into the action a minute later, the nimble forward’s shot was goalbound but a good reflex safe from Willie Irwin on the Emmett’s line pushed the ball over the bar to reduce arrears to four points. Using the substantial wind advantage Irwin’s puck out found Pearce Bannon twenty yards from goal, the skilled forward lashed the sliotar between the sticks, before Conleith McNeill then pointed from a free to open up a six point lead for the visitors. 

The Dreen men then responded and raised two white flags in the space of a minute, the first a pointed effort from Declan McKay and the second a sublime effort from Enda McFerran. The County minor collected possession, weaved his way through the challenges of the Cushendun defence and split the posts off his favourite left side. Emmetts finished the half on a high with a brace of scores to take control of the game and lead by nine points at the half way stage, three from the stick of Conleith McNeill, the first an excellent side line cut and points a piece from Pearce Bannon and Dominic Sharkey. Half time score St Mary’s Rasharkin 0-4, Emmett’s Cushendun 1-10.

A rallying half time talk from Dick O’Kane saw his charges respond in kind, Enda McFerran bagged St Mary’s first goal of the match inside the first minute when he collected a long free from Brendan McMullan which was struck from well inside his own half.  Thomas McMullan then got his name of the scoresheet in a move well supported by Declan McKay; Kevin Agnew added another to further reduce arrears to four before Conleith McNeill watched his sixth point sale over the crossbar after five minutes. Rasharkin’s blistering start was compounded when Aidan Darragh fired beyond Willie Irwin to reduce the deficit to two points after ten minutes.

The homeside completed a miraculous comeback to leave the minimum between the sides when Kevin Agnew drilled over from fifty yards from wide out on the right hand side much to the raptures of the home contingent. The Glensmen swiftly responded and engineered their second three pointer to increase their grip to four points. Man of the match Conleith McNeill was instrumental in this move as with much of the play by Cushendun, his surging run forward found Eoin McQuillan who had the easiest of tap ins for his second goal. Emmetts then pushed on to score three unanswered and crush any chance of a Rasharkin revival with points from Aidan Corbett, Pearce Bannon and Matthew McCartan. Kevin Agnew grabbed a consolation point for St Mary’s but was too little too late as the visitors headed up the lane with both points secured in a well deserved victory. Full time score St Mary’s Rasharkin 2-8, Emmett’s Cushendun 2-14.

This victory sees Emmetts Cushendun remain at the summit of the league table with a game in hand over nearest rivals Bredagh, who are the only club to have defeated the Glensmen this season thus far. The Rasharkin side are still in transition mode under the watchful eye of Gregory O’Kane, who will be looking for a concentrated effort prior to the business end of the season just around the corner.

St.Mary’s Rasharkin: Conor McFerran, Daniel McKay, Joey Quinn, Paul McMullan, Conor McKeever, Brendan McMullan, Conor Donaghy, Declan McKay and Thomas McMullan, Aidan Darragh, Kevin Agnew, Enda McFerran, Adrian Scullion, Damien McGaughey and Donagh Quigg.

Subs: Daniel Hasson and Daniel Doherty

Emmett’s Cushendun: Willie Irwin, Mark Scally, Conor McKay, Michael McHugh, Donal O’Hara, Niall McAuley, Torr Kenny, Don Whelan and Matthew McCartan, Dominic Sharkey, Dominic McQuillan, Conleith McNeill, Alex McMullan, Eoin McQuillan and Pearce Bannon. 

Subs: Aidan Corbett, Oisin McMahon and Ruairi Millar

 Referee: Malachy Leech (Oisins, Glenariffe)