Fixtures & Results 2015 - JHC

St.Mary’s see off Lamh Dhearg

St.Mary’s Rasharkin Hurlers progress into the last four of this year’s Junior Hurling Championship following a convincing 0-19 to 1-10 win over Lamh Dhearg at Clooney Sunday past.

The Dreen men are having a solid season, largely going to plan - in the top half of the league pushing for third place and having already secured the SW Abbey Cup, they entered this fixture with the favorites tag being last year’s finalists in this competition and after recording a remarkable twelve point victory away to the Hannahstown side in the league encounter earlier in June.

Naomh Muire got off to a positive start and found themselves two up after five minutes thanks to points from Eamon McNeill and Declan McKay. However, Lamh Dhearg responded well with points from Cathal Kelly and Paul Brunty and when corner forward Cameron Flynn lifted the onion bag the Red Hand men had found their groove.

Rasharkin fought hard in the opening quarter but couldn’t manage to stem the Lamh Dhearg advances, further frees from Aidan McGuigan saw the Belfast side open up at four point lead after sixteen minutes. St.Mary’s Brendan McMullan used his experience to settle nerves midway through the half with two well converted long range pointed frees. This rallied Rasharkin in the closing stages of the half to raise the white flag three times following efforts from Conor McKeever and two from Declan McKay and send the Dreen men in at half time one point in arrears. Half time score St.Mary’s 0-7 Lamh Dhearg 1-5.    

The half time team talk from Rasharkin managers Paul McFerran and Liam McCart had an instant impact and set the scene for the second period. Rasharkin’s Declan McKay pulled the tie all square inside the opening minute before the sides then exchanged two points apiece. The fixture was ultimately decided in a five minute blitz during the third quarter of the game with five unanswered points all from play to put St.Mary’s five points clear (point scorers Declan McKay, Conor Hasson, Daniel Doherty, Eamon McNeil and Conor McKeever).

Lamh Dhearg dug deep in the closing stages but couldn’t sustain the relentless Rasharkin attacks. St.Mary’s had now thrown off the shackles and were finding holes throughout the Lamh Dhearg rearguard, they engineered sleek passages of play and converted some sublime scores from Conor McKeever, Eamon McNeill and Conor McFerran to close out a convincing win and amass an impressive nineteen points. Final Score St.Mary’s 0-19 Lamh Dhearg 1-10.

This was a great all round team performance from Rasharkin, the skill, determination and passion shown by this squad is commendable, well done to players and management

Good luck in the semi final. It was also good to see a good support out for the lads at Clooney - let’s hope there’s a few more days out similar to Sunday.

Team: James O’Mullan, Donagh Quigg, Aidan McKeever, Paul McMullan, Daniel Doherty, Brendan McMullan, Conor Donaghy, Conor Hasson and Thomas McMullan, Eamon McNeill, Declan McKay, Conor McKeever, Chris McKiernan, Joey Quinn and Conor McFerran.

Subs used: Daniel Hasson, Enda McFerran, Kevin Agnew, John Doherty and Daniel McKay