Fixtures & Results 2011 - IHC

IHC
31 Jul 2011


St.Mary's Rasharkin ousted at first hurdle

Both these sides having collected Junior Championship success in the last two seasons earned the right to compete for Intermediate glory. This was the third meeting of these sides this season, each club winning away from home in the league, Cloughmills winning by six points at Dreen in May and Rasharkin winning more recently by five at Cloughmills in July.

Loughgeil Shamrocks played host to this fixture and as you would expect the groundsmen had the playing facilities in excellent shape.

There were two minutes on the clock when Cloughmills full forward Liam Cairns fired over a free to settle his team. Rasharkin's Declan McKay bagged the first goal of the game a minute later when he pulled on the ball from thirteen yards. St.Brigid's made all the early running scoring four points in a ten minute flurry from Steven Smith, James Doherty and two from Liam Cairns to put them into an early two point led.

The Biddies turned the screw after twenty three and twenty four minutes when Steven Smith fired into the roof of the Rasharkin net, Liam Cairns followed suit a minute later with a screamer from twenty yards. St.Mary's replied a minute later from a free by Aidan Darragh. Cloughmills finished the half with two further points from Steven Smith and Ruairi Laverty to give their side a nine point cushion at the short whistle St.Mary's 1-1 St.Brigid's 2-7.

Cloughmills wing half forward Mickey Morrison was to get his name on the score sheet three minutes into the half, before Rasharkin landed a much needed goal a minute later from Conor Hasson to reduce the deficit to seven points. However, Liam Cairns quickly dealt the killer blow with a point on eight minutes from a free and his sides three goal after eleven. Aaron Smiley launched a high ball into the Rasharkin square and Cairns flicked the ball over the head of James O'Mullan on the line.

Declan McKay returned two points from Rasharkin after twelve and fourteen, but Steven Smith restored the led with two Cloughmills points after fifteen and sixteen. Liam Cairns put the game beyond any doubt midway through the half when he blazed pasted James O'Mullan to claim his hat trick and the Biddies fourth goal.

McKay again for Rasharkin pointed twice the second from a free, before James Doherty tacked on a point for St.Brigid's. Liam Cairns capped a man of the match performance when his took his personal tally too a staggering 3-5 with seven minutes remaining. Rasharkin's second half substitute John Doherty was to have the last say when he converted St.Mary's third goal with three minute on the clock.

St.Brigid's ran out comfortable winners 4-13 to 3-5 they now advance to the quarter final where they take on Shane O'Neill Glenarm who recieved a bye.

Rasharkin: James O'Mullan, Daniel Doherty, Joey Quinn, Paul McMullan, Daniel Hasson, Michael Hasson, Brendan McMullan, Thomas McMullan (Capt) and James Scally, Declan McKay, Conor Hasson, Shane Hasson, Eamon Kelly, Duirmuid Quinn and Aidan Darragh.

Subs: John Doherty, Damien McGaughey, Thomas Doherty, Daniel McKay and Conor McKeever.

Cloughmills: Chris McKiernan, Daniel McLaughlin, John McGuckian, Brendan Martin, Darren Morrison, Aaron Smiley, Steven Martin (Capt), Liam Cairns and Gary McCollum, Michael Morrison, Conor Laverty, James Doherty, Ruairi Laverty, Michael Delvin and Steven Smith

Subs: Colm McLaughlin, Adrian Hill and Aaron McNeill

Referee: Joe Compston (St.Agnes Belfast)