19 September 2009
St Mary’s Rasharkin won the Junior Hurling Championship when they held off the late challenge of Cushendun Emmet’s in Friday night’s final at Casement Park.
Beaten in the last three finals Rasharkin’s young team finally found the winning formula against a seasoned Cushendun side many of whom must have been setting some kind of record by appearing in Senior, Intermediate and Junior finals in the same decade.
There was little to choose between the sides in the early stages but Cushendun’s chances were dealt a blow in the tenth minute when they were reduced to fourteen men after corner-back Gerard Magee received a second yellow card.
With the sides level at a point apiece Rasharkin began to push on and Thomas McMullan (2), Shane Hasson and Eamon Kelly added points to pull them four clear, but the Emmet’s hit back to level with a Rab Laverty point and a goal from former county player Aiden Mort.
Rasharkin regained the upper hand in the closing minutes of the second half and two Brendan McMullan points and one from Eamon McNeill gavoe them a 0-7 to 1-2 lead at the break.
Cushendun drew level early in the second-half with well taken points from Paddy McSparran and Dominic McQuillan their scoring dried up and for the next twenty one minutes they managed only one point from Aiden Mort.
Rasharkin on the other hand were much more prolific and Darren O’Boyle, Thomas McMullan (3), Shane Hasson and Diarmaid Quinn all found the target to pull five clear with just five minute left for play.
Cushendun almost pulled the game out of the fire when Aiden Mort doubled an overhead ball to the Rasharkin net and Paddy McSparran sent over a point from distance, but Rasharkin held on and produced a storming finish with a goal followed by a fine Eamon McNeill point to clinch the club's first title since 1991 and spark scenes of great celebration.
RASHARKIN – James O’Mullan, Daniel Doherty, Joseph Quinn, Paul McMullan, Brendan McMullan, Michael Hasson, Daniel Hasson, Thomas McMullan, Declan McKay, Shane Hasson, Thomas Doherty, Eddie McCurry, Damian McGaughey, Eamon Kelly, Darren O’Boyle.
SUBS – Dairmaid Quinn, Aiden Darragh, Eamon McNeill.
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