ACFL Div 2 - Rasharkin v Rossa
[Photos in 2010]
St.Mary's Rasharkin (3-17)
Rossa (0-06)
Rasharkin Crowned Champions
St.Mary's Rasharkin were crowned Division Two football champions following there comprehensive defeat of Rossa 3-16 to 0-6.
This was league game seventeen for the Dreen men and their fifteenth victory of the season, indeed from an early stage there
was no doubt where the destination of the Division two title was headed.
St.Mary's got the season off to a flying start claiming maximum points from the first five games; they had a
speed wobble in May when they dropped the first two points away to Gortnamona. However, normal service was restored
with four wins on the trot against Aghagallon, Rossa, Dunloy and All Saints Ballymena by mid June.
JC Delvin's team Aldergrove were to clinch the only two points from Dreen this season with a gutsy performance at the end of June.
At the start of July, teams around the country are starting to focus on the Championship, Rasharkin are no different. Team manager
Paddy McNeill sent out a clear message to his charges what was expected for good preparation. The players responded gaining maximum
points from the following five league games; this meant that victory at home to Rossa in the penultimate game would give St.Mary's the title.
Rasharkin soared into the lead in this game and found themselves three up in the first ten minutes, two from wing half forward
Joey Quinn and one from Brendan Etherson. Michael Turly replied for the visitors after eleven before Johnny McAleese lifted the
roof of the Rossa net mid way through the half. Paul Doherty converted a free after seventeen. Wing half back Sean Hasson put
Rasharkin eight up after twenty two minutes following two surging runs up the field to score two points back to back.
The Shaw's Road side responded with two points in as many minutes from Paul Cushnahan and Gerard Armstrong,
before Joey Quinn and Decky McKay squeezed in points a piece before the half time break.
Johnny McAleese gave the home side a positive start to the second half with a point after three minutes before
Brendan Etherson converted a major after five. Full forward Gavin Bell notched up a point from a free before Etherson
again pointed after nine. Second half substitute Brendan McMullan notched up three points in ten minutes with McAleese
adding a further point to open up a comfortable lead. Gavin Bell and Bill Kelly made their mark in the second half but
Rasharkin were too superior. Further points from McAleese and another screamer from Brendan Etherson brought his personal
tally to 2-4 as Rasharkin ran out comfortable winners.
Team: Donal McLarnon, Thomas Doherty (Capt), Aiddy Scullion, Cahir O'Kane, Sean Hasson, Duirmuid Quinn,
Peader McMullan, Paul Doherty and Benny Hasson, Joey Quinn, Conor Hasson, Brendan Etherson, Decky McKay, Johnny McAleese and Michael Hasson.
Subs: Brendan McMullan for Michael Hasson, Damian McGaughey for Conor Hasson, Raymond O'Boyle for Paul Doherty,
Conor Gribben for Cahir O'Kane and Ryan Doherty for Donal McLarnon.
After the drop last season, Rasharkin have proved they are too strong for Division two. They are now back into top
flight football, but now must reassert themselves once again as a genuine division one side. With the league now safely
in the bag let's hope this sleek young side continue to make the headlines.
Congratulations to the players, manager Paddy McNeill and the two right hand men Ryan McAleese and Thomas Donaghy.
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