The Div 1 league leaders were knocked off their perch after a disappointing mid-week slump in Rasharkin where a more determined and incisive St Marys side was fully deserving of the three point win. Naomh Brid’s woes were added to by a growing injury list coupled with a suspension ahead of Sunday’s visit to Cargin.
Rasharkin made the early running, playing with a strong cross-field breeze, pinning the visitors deep in their own half. However, their tally of just two points from the opening 10 minutes of domination was scant return from a host of opportunities. Meanwhile the visitors remarkably were level with points from Sherry and Gallagher from rare forays over the half way line. There was an edge to the match which eventually spilt over on 12 minutes as Sweeney saw red for exacting retribution with interest for a strike on McGrady by his marker. The early departure left a nagging concern that the cost to Naomh Brid’s midfield would outweigh Rasharkin’s defensive deficit. And so it proved. Rasharkin’s dominance simply increased and despite a mounting wides’ count, by the 27th minute mark they had tagged on three useful points in a low scoring game.
They were almost pegged back against the run of play just before the break when Loughrey broke through and passed to Cunninghman who played in McGrady. But the keeper was down smartly to smother the delayed shot and the chance was gone. Dowling exchanged points with McAleese to leave a four point deficit at the break.
Half time: Rasharkin 0-7 Naomh Brid 0-3
Naomh Brid proved the equal of their hosts on the restart in terms of spurning a series of chances during a sustained period of pressure. Loughrey did manage a good point but Rasharkin, having weathered the initial storm and now looking the better balanced and more incisive side, twice punished defensive indiscretions with simple tap-over frees. The blues’ play in contrast was laboured and handling mediocre, which led to numerous turnovers, as Rasharkin grew in conviction and began to play with some style. McLaughlin struck an excellent free from the sideline before his loss to injury but Rasharkin hit back quickly with two points for a six-point cushion with five minutes left.
And yet there was still a glimmer of hope at the last when Gallagher showed the forwards how it’s done with his second point and then O’Neill’s speculative lob broke on the edge of the square to Finegan of all people who fired home to reduce the margin to two. But in truth anything other than a home win would have been an injustice and Rasharkin had the final score to prove their point.
Full time: Rasharkin 0-12 Naomh Brid 1-6
Team: W McSorley, P Finegan (1-0), A Christie, D MacAuley, K Gallagher (0-2), B McMahon, R Daly (C McLaughlin (0-1)), M Sweeney, M Malone, J Dowling (0-1), F Sherry (0-1) (M Ward), J Loughrey (0-1), R O’Neill, N Cunningham, C McGrady (J Brolly)
Man of the match: J McAleese (Rasharkin)
