Fixtures & Results 2012 - SFC

Cargin book semi final berth against arch rivals

Erins Own brush past St.Mary’s Rasharkin in the quarter final of Brown’s Fish & Chips Senior Football Championship on Sunday past at Clooney, setting up a mouth-watering semi final with reigning Champions St.Galls who are currently seeking a remarkable sixth title on the bounce. Cargin, who steam rolled the Dreen men last term at Creggan at the first hurdle, had eight points to spare over them this time round. The Toome outfit disposed of All Saints Ballymena last weekend to qualify into the last eight, haven’t really been tested yet and have only been playing in cruise control mode; however, their next outing will be more demanding when they try to dethrone the Milltown side on the weekend 9thSeptember.

The result of this game never looked to be in any doubt as Cargin took the lead after two minutes, they went three up before Rasharkin got off the mark. The Erins Own inside forward line continued to cause problems with there superior skill and movement, they pushed on to put more daylight between the teams and lead 0-8 to 0-2 at the interval. However, twenty two minutes into the first spell Cargin’s plans were dealt a temporary setback when Paul McCann received retribution for his indiscipline in an off the ball altercation involving Rasharkin wing half back Thomas Doherty, he was sent for an early shower and gave St.Mary’s numerical advantage. The Loughshore side continued the second half in the same groove as the first when and outscored St.Mary’s by two points to run out comfortable winners 0-14 to 0-6.

Ardoyne Kickhams clubman Eamon Trainer was the man in the middle for this tie and was ably assisted by Harry Graham and Sean McAtamney. St.Mary’s Ahoghill deserve much credit for their hospitality and had the facilities on the Crosskeys Roadarena, as usual, in top condition.

Cargin’s Tomas McCann started the scoring inside the second minute when fired over a long range free from an acute angle on the left hand side. The renowned wing half back Tony Scullion was instrumental in Erins Own second score; he carried the ball from defence to attack laid off to Fearghal Johnston who found John Carron supporting on the outside, the towering midfielder landed a superb effort after five to double his side’s advantage. Gerard O’Boyle completed Cargin’s perfect start when he recorded possibly the best score of the game after six minutes. O’Boyle won possession from a high ball rounded his marker, made a darting run across and launched a right footed rasper from the right hand side some forty yards out in front of the Cargin dugout.

Rasharkin broke the duck after seven minutes when Johnny McAleese clipped over from close ranch following a delightful pass from the young Championship debutant Enda McFerran. But back came the Loughshore men with two points both from Ciaran Close. Close showed no signs of a niggling hamstring injury when he converted a thirty yard free after eleven minutes and fisted over another a minute later following a clever ball played in by wing half forward James Laverty. St.Mary’s fought hard throughout the middle of the half, their efforts were rewarded when team Captain Paul Doherty raised the white flag after eighteen minutes finishing a menacing run with the assistant of McAleese and McFerran.

Match Referee Eamon Trainer was called into the action after twenty one minutes of the first half, after consultation with his linesman he issued Cargin corner forward a straight red for an off the ball strike to Rasharkin defender Thomas Doherty. Older brother Tomas McCann restored calm to the situation when he flighted over a forty five yard strike from off the ground. Cargin fired over two further frees before the short whistle, the first from McCann from the right and the second from Ciaran Close who stepped up to convert his own free having been upended enroute to goal. Half time score Cargin 0-8 Rasharkin 0-2.

Cargin’s James Laverty set up his side’s first score of the second half when he was hauled down thirty yards from goal. McCann’s free taking skills were tested up once more from off the sod with the same successful conclusion. Rasharkin’s Paul Doherty pulled the resultant kickout out of the sky and laid off to the St.Mary’s extra man Connor Gribben who found Eamon McNeill in the corner, the mobile full forward skinned his marker and split the posts after six minutes. Tomas McCann then obliged from the set piece when he was adjudged to have been fouled twenty yards out. The game which had adapted a stop start rhythm continued in that mould with another free this time it was Rasharkin Doherty’s who executed his skills to give his side their fourth point.

Midway through the second period Erins Own opened out and scored four without replay to diminish any Rasharkin revival, the first from Ciaran Kelly, followed by Ciaran Close and Gerard O’Boyle who’s effort was aided by the upright, with the last Cargin effort falling to Tomas McCann who took his personal tally to six all from the placed ball. The game never looked beyond any doubt as to the outcome, but Rasharkin who are having a season to forget showed great determination and fought right to the end. Their second half substitute Shane Hasson chalked up point number five before Eamon McNeill’s successful forty yard free on the stoke of full time finished the scoring. Full Time Cargin 0-14 Rasharkin 0-6.

Cargin Management team of Paddy Griffin and Gavin Scullion haven’t really seen their charges get out of second gear in their first two encounters of the Championship season, they can now concentrate all their skills and efforts into thoughts of the next round against The Galls, a game which most will deem as being the decider.

Rasharkin: Donal McLernon, Damien McGaughey, Sean Hasson, Dominic McFerran, Thomas Doherty, Cahir O’Kane, Peader McMullan, Paul Doherty (Capt) (0-2 1F) and Cathal Mooney, Declan McKay, Benny Hasson, Eamonn O’Boyle, Enda McFerran, Johnny McAleese (0-1) and Eamon McNeill (0-2 1F).

Subs used: Connor Gribben, Ryan Doherty, Shane Hasson (0-1), Philip Quinn and Mark Hasson.

Cargin: John McNabb, Donagh McKeever, Gerard McCann, Kevin O’Boyle, Tony Scullion, Justin Crozier, James Laverty, John Carron (0-1), Michael McCann, Ciaran Kelly (0-1), Tomas McCann (0-6 all frees), Fearghal Johnston, Ciaran Close (Capt) (0-4 3F), Gerard O’Boyle (0-2) and Paul McCann.

Subs: Enda McGroggan

Referee: Eamon Trainer (Kickhams Ardoyne)