A lacklustre Naomh Brid stumbled to a three point defeat at the hands of Rasharkin on Sunday evening as once more Deramore proved fertile territory for the visitors. At the mid season point, the Malone side remain in sixth place in ACL Div 1 on eight points, all but two of which have been bagged away from home.
The home side, who were notably minus the services of Loughrey, O’Hagan and Sweeney, struggled to match the strength and determination of a Rasharkin side desperate for points at the bottom of the table. But while they were far from their best, it was a brace of self-inflicted goals, one at the start of each half, which ultimately sold the ranch.
The visitors made the best possible start when Hassan made no mistake from the spot on four minutes after the rampaging forward was upended in the large rectangle. Then Brolly took a pass from McGrady to open for the home side on six minutes. The next 20 minutes, which included a lengthy injury stoppage, were instantly forgettable as both sides slugged it out with nothing to show on the board. A Brolly 13 metre free closed the gap but Rasharkin hit back promptly with two good points from play. Naomh Brid were then handed a numerical advantage when a late tackle drew the first red card of the evening. As Rasharkin struggled to regroup, O’Neill converted a 45 before two further Brolly points brought the sides level. Deep into injury time O’Neill took a great score after good work by the tireless McGrady to give the home side a barely deserved interval lead.
Half time: Naomh Brid 0-6 Rasharkin 1-2
The depleted Rasharkin made little of their loss as they made a whirlwind start to the second half. Two quick points from play restored their lead before a long ball caught the home defence napping and they rattled the net to set alarm bells ringing. Despite the extra player Naomh Brid were clearly toiling and bereft of the slick passing and movement, notably in attack, that had served them well in their opening fixtures. However, following a McGrady point, they were thrown a life-line when the dependable Brolly brought parity again as he kept his nerve to smash home from close range. Four successive home wides then proved costly as the frustration deepened. Rasharkin had the bit between their teeth and in the space of as many minutes punished two cheap fouls with simple tap-overs and then struck again from play. The sides traded points before O’Neill was dismissed to sum up a disappointing evening for the Malone men. When Edwards slipped as he set his sights on goal the game was up and the Rasharkin support celebrated two precious points.
Full time: Naomh Brid 1-8 Rasharkin 2-8
Team: J Mackle, P O’Hara, R Smith, B Reilly, B McMahon, A Christie, D MacAuley, J McGuckian, M Donnelly, C McGrady, D Edwards, R O’Neill, J Brolly, N Cunningham, A Cole
