Minor Championship
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Glenravel 3-10 Rasharkin 1-8
On the 4th May 2010 this year Rasharkin amassed a staggering 3-21 against the Con Magees, albeit conceding 5-7 in the process. At the time this scribe contended that the result could be overturned come championship time. Having won their last two league fixtures at home in unconvincing style against Aghagallon and Dunloy and been inactive on the field of play for about six weeks, their was little evidence to show just how such a turnaround was to come about. Still on a resplendent Maginn Park on a sun-drenched evening their was a quiet steely determination about the men in Green&White who took to the field, and although still not at full strength, were buoyed by the inclusion of a number of the U16 squad. Rasharkin's intentions were obvious from the start, arriving an hour before throw-in and par-taking in a rigorous warm-up. They were quickly into their stride from the throw in, goaling in the first minute and adding a further point after 5 minutes before Declan Traynor opened the home side account on seven minutes. Both sides traded further points in these opening stages - however a feature of this early period was sustained pressure from the Dreen men and a series of outstanding point blank saves from Niall Black. Drawing confidence from this it was on a rare breakout that after good chasing from Traynor that Declan Diamond side-footed to the net to bring the game level on 12minutes. The game settled down thereafter as both sides once again exchanged points, one feature of this period was an outstanding long range effort from Gerard O'Mullan, breaking forward and showing the men up front just how to do it. Half-time came with Glenravel two points in arrears, 1-7 to 1-5. Still it was a more confident Glenravel who ran off at the break, knowing that they had it within themselves to take the game to Rasharkin and advance to the next round. For the first twenty minutes of the second half Glenravel dominated the match everywhere but on the scoreboard. Conor McNeill and Joe Scullion swept up at the back and fed intelligent ball to forwards in space, midfield held sway, with Michael O'Mullan going through a trojan amount of work, but all to show on the scoreboard was a single Josh McKeown point, which was cancelled out by a single Rasharkin point on 19minutes. A series of free kicks sent skywards and wide with no return increased the tension as the game entered the melting point in the last ten minutes. Outstanding fielding by Gerard O'Mullan and David Higgins seemed to galvanise those around them - McKeown slotted a free in the 20th minute and seconds later the home support erupted as Declan Traynor slotted cooly to the back of the Rasharkin net - McCambrige, albeit visibly carrying an injury ignited to fire over and feed Traynor for a further major to leave it a six point game with six minutes to go. The surge continued towards the finished line, Jordan McNeill muscled his way through for a fine point and Josh McKeown rounded off the night with a well-struck free to leave Glenravel home by an 8pt margin. This was an outstanding team effort, everyone playing a part, with some fantastic football at times keeping the crowd very much enthused and entertained. There is more in the tank, with two weeks to the 1/4 final against Lamh Dearg, the club must get behind this group of players and give all the support required. lets put a big effort in lads over the next two weeks. Well Done!!
Team:Niall Black, Shane McGarry, Danny Dowds, Jamie Dougal, Paul F McGuckian, Gerard O'Mullan(0-1), Conor McNeill(0-1), Michael O'Mullan, Christy O'Kane, Declan Diamond(1-0),David Higgins, Josh McKeown(0-3), Caolan McCambridge(0-2), Declan Traynor(2-2),Joseph Scullion Mark O'Connor Jordan McNeill(0-1) Declan Higgins,Karl Delargy,Sean McKillop