Fixtures & Results 2011 - ACFL Div 1

ACFL Div 1
4 May 2011


So near, yet so far for Rasharkin Senior Footballers

Rasharkin's senior footballers travelled to Cargin for league game number five of the season. The last time these sides met was in last year's O'Cahan Cup in Toome (a game which St.Mary's will want to forget) however, since then these teams have been drawn against each other in the first round of this year's senior championship. This league encounter would serve as good indicator to both sides as was to expect come 7th August.

St.Mary's top of the left Eamon McNeill settled the visitors after three minute when he dropped the ball over the Cargin crossbar. Johnny McAleese doubled Rasharkin's lead two minutes later with a long range effort. Cargin response came from their full forward Gerard O'Boyle, he spilt the posts for the home sides opening score on eight minutes. McNeill struck again for Rasharkin a minute later followed by a forty yard screamer from veteran defender Thomas Doherty who found himself on the end of a through ball from Paul Doherty.

Centre forward for Cargin Ciaran close curled over a peach on twenty minutes to reduce Rasharkin's grip to two points. Match referee Thomas Close had no hesitation pointing to the penalty spot on twenty two minutes when roving corner back Michael Hasson was upended inside the Cargin eighteen yard box. McNeill made no mistake from the spot when he fired the ball beyond Cargin net minder John McNabb and give his side a five point lead. Wing half forward James Laverty pulled one back for the Lough shore men on the stroke of half time leaving 1-4 to 0-3 in favour of the Dreen Men.

Cargin turned around now with wind advantage opened their second half account after two minutes through full forward Gerard O'Boyle. Both sides played hard at the start of the half but could not show any addition on the scoreboard. It wasn't until the twelve minutes before Justin Crozier got his name on the score sheet for Cargin; this was followed by two further points for the home side in as many minutes from Gerard O'Boyle and John Carron. Decky McKay nudged for Rasharkin in front once more from the set piece six minutes from time.

St.Mary's then sensed victory in the closing stages, they held opposition for much of the last five minutes and had numerous chances to close out the game, but they couldn't get over the line. Erin's Own grabbed an equaliser from the set piece by O'Boyle before Close put them in front in injury time. Gerard O'Boyle then took his personal tally to five to leave full time score 1-5 to 0-10 for the home side.

St.Mary's Rasharkin: Donal McLernon, Cahir O'Kane, Duirmuid Quinn, Michael Hasson, Thomas Doherty, Conor Hasson, Philip Quinn, Paul Doherty and Raymond O'Boyle, Cathal Mooney, Alan McNeill, Johnny McAleese, Declan McKay, Brendan Etherson and Eamon McNeill.

Subs: Brendan McMullan for Johnny McAleese

Erins Own Cargin: John McNabb, Michael McCloskey, Gerard McCann, Donagh McKeever, Tony Scullion, Justin Crozier, Martin Kane, John Carron and Michael McCann, Enda McGroggan, Ciaran Close, James Laverty, Paul McCann Gerard O'Boyle and Conor McLernon.

Subs: Kevin O'Boyle for Conor McLernon and Donal McKeever for Ciaran Close.

Referee: Thomas Close (St.Ergnats Moneyglass)