18 October 2010
It took 2 hours and 20 minutes to finally separate these two protagonists in this Antrim Intermediate Football Championship Final. Two weeks ago it took a late Declan McGarry point to earn Dunloy a replay in Ahoghill and on Saturday a Benny McGarry point in the 33d minute of the second half sent this fiercely contested battle into extra time.
The body language during the interlude might have suggested that Rasharkin looked the more jaded side but Paddy McNeill roused his troops magnificently to one final effort and with both sides nearly out on their feet, it was the men from Dreen who won the day.
Dunloy were first out of the starting blocks with Benny McGarry pointing them ahead from a free in the opening minute but Rasharkin responded with points from Brendan McMullan and Tomas Doherty to edge ahead by the 5th minute.
Benny McGarry tied the contest once more and Brendan Etherson for Rasharkin and Kevin McQuillan for Dunloy exchanged further point to leave it Even-Stephens again with 10 minutes gone.
There was no quarter being asked or given with this game being played at a hectic pace and the tackling tough and uncompromising but slowly the Dreen men began to gain the upper hand as Eamon McNeill, Declan McKay (0-2) and Johnny McAleese sent over unanswered points to put their side 0-7 to 0-3 in front by the 25th minute and they looked to be taking control at this stage.
Dunloy had been on the defensive for some time but they hit back with a vengeance in the 26th minute when mid-fielder, Conor McKinley raced through the middle of the Rasharkin defence and played a one-two with Kevin ‘Red’ McAllister before placing the ball in the Rasharkin net.
St. Mary’s looked shocked as Declan McGarry tagged on the equalising point and Stephen McAlonan put Dunloy ahead for the second time in the contest as he split the posts in the 31st minute.
It looked at this stage as if the Cuchullians would take their narrow lead into the break but their opponents had other ideas and a long delivery from Tomas Doherty was broken into the path of Joey Quinn by Brendan McMullan and the latter dived to punch it to the Dunloy net.
BRIGHT START
Spurred on by their late first half rally, Rasharkin came out for the second in confident mood and once again looked like they were taking control as Declan McKay, Eamon McNeill and Brendan Etherson extended their lead to five with five minutes of the new half gone.
Dunloy replied with a point from Kevin McAllister as Declan McKay wasted a couple of scoreable opportunities for the Dreen men and when McAllister responded with another Dunloy point in the 12th minute, there was just three between the sides.
Eamon McNeill edged Rasharkin four ahead again but Dunloy were still firing on all fronts and they came roaring back once more. As referee, Jarlath O’Donnell pointed to the penalty spot following an indiscretion by Donal McLernon in the St. Mary’s goals, Benny McGarry stepped forward to place the ball in the net to cut the deficit to the minimum with 10 minutes remaining.
Dunloy were now on the ascendancy and might have gone ahead in their next attack but Donal McLernon redeemed himself as he came off his line to deny Kevin McAllister what looked a certain goal.
The tension was now almost unbearable as both sides sent fresh faces and fresh legs into the battle arena and Eamon McNeill edged the Dreen men two in front once more with a 25th minute point.
It looked all over at this stage but, as in the first game, doubt and fear of losing seemed to creep into the Rasharkin play. Kevin McQuillan closed the gap to the minimum once more and Benny McGarry’s point, deep in time added on ensured a further 20 nail biting minutes for the good crowd who had assembled at the excellent Creggan venue.
HOLD THEIR NERVE
It was obvious that the team who could hold their nerve would take the title and, given the fact that Dunloy had already pulled it out of the fire twice, that they were now being billed with the favourite’s tag but Paddy McNeill had other ideas.
His talk to his charges seemed to work the oracle as they returned to the fray with a new vigour to shade the exchanges in the opening half but nothing to show for their domination of possession during the opening ten minutes.
As the sides changed ends they were still locked on the score board but an excellent catch and score from Johnny McAleese on the restart seemed to give them the impetus to drive for the line. Cathal Mooney added another after good work by Paul Doherty and Declan McKay to put them two in front with still five minutes remaining.
Could Dunloy pull this one out of the fire again? It looked possible when Paudie Shivers pointed an 9th minute free but Brendan Etherson sent a massive point between the Dunloy uprights to cap a fine personal performance and ensure there was to be no way back this time for the Dunloy men.
Scenes of celebration followed at the final whistle as a large Rasharkin following embraced their heroes. The game had been anything but a classic but contained enough honest endeavour, tough tackling and, at times, good scores to keep both sets of spectators on their toes until the final whistle.
In doing so Rasharkin have completed a Division 2 League and Championship double and will play their football in Division 1 next year while competing in the Senior Championship. In contrast Dunloy will be plying their trade in Division 3 but I’d expect them to make a quick return to Division 2 and also be serious contenders for the Intermediate Championship next season.
Rasharkin: Donal McLernon: Michael Hasson, Adrian Scullion, Cahir O’Kane: Sean Hasson, Paul Doherty, Alan McNeill: Dermot Quinn, Brendan Etherson: Joey Quinn, Thomas Doherty, Johnny McAleese: Declan McKay, Eamon McNeill, Brendan McMullan. Subs: Conor Gribben for Cahir O’Kane Cathal Mooney for Brendan McMullan, Conor Hasson for Conor Gribben
Dunloy: Gary McIlfatrick: Stephen Dooey, Barry Murphy, Owen Scott: Colm Cunning, Paudie Shivers, Cahir Cunning: Conor McKinley, Gareth McAllister: Declan McGarry, Kevin McQuillan, Kevin McAlonan: Kevin McAllister, Stephen McAlonan Benny McGarry. Subs. Chris Brogan for Cahir Cunning, Paddy Doherty for Kevin McAlonan. Jimmy McFerran for Cahir Cunning, Johnny McAleese for Declan McGarry, Cahir Cunning for Benny McGarry, Declan McGarry for Paddy Doherty
Referee: Jarlath O’Donnell (Glenravel)
Report by Benny McGarry
