RAPHOE LOST OUT BY the odd goal in five on Saturday against Belfast Harlequins at Deramore Park in the Kirk Cup.
Belfast Harlequins 3 Raphoe 2
The Donegal side have four Kirk cup matches before the Premier League season begins in October.
Raphoe are hoping that these matches will give them some valuable game time and allow Rodney Bates to experiment with his team ahead of a big season for the club.
The Premier League has undergone major restructuring, with the top four teams Banbridge, Lisnagarvey, Cookstown and Annadale having joined the Irish Hockey League.
These teams have dominated the league in recent years and their absence will create a very competitive Ulster Premier League for all the teams involved.
Raphoe’s main objective will be to avoid relegation, but the squad is looking strong and will be targeting a place further up the table.
Saturday’s game started at a high tempo with both teams having their share of possession and chances were created at either end early on.
Harlequins were in the driving seat and seized their opportunity fifteen minutes in. Some mistimed tackles from Raphoe allowed Quins to break into their circle. A rasping shot from the right hand side of the goal beat both goalkeeper Rankin and Matthew Lecky (Lecky is pictured above) at the near post.
This was the kick-start Raphoe needed and they upped their game from the restart.
With a few of Raphoe’s more experienced senior players missing for the game, it fell to the younger players to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Alexander Tinney, Luke Witherow and Ben Wallace in the midfield started to combine well and looked dangerous going forward.
Raphoe had several good phases of passing but failed to create anything that could beat the Quins keeper who was in fine form. It took a more direct approach for Raphoe to find their equaliser.
Ben Wallace sent the ball crashing into the circle and George Patterson got a touch from a few yards out, deflecting home to square the game up.
Raphoe’s tails were up at this stage and they struck home again soon after. Another dangerous ball played in by Wallace this time found a defenders foot, winning a short corner.
Matthew Lecky made the game 2-1 when he drag flicked high into the net. Raphoe dominated the rest of the first half and should really have put the game to bed before half time.
They failed to score several good chances and short corners before the break.
The half ended 2-1 in Raphoe’s favour.
Raphoe had spells of good play but didn’t create enough chances to extend their narrow lead. Harlequins won several short corners and it was from one of these midway through the half that they levelled the game 2-2.
Rankin saved a drag flick well but the ball fell fortunately to an oncoming attacker who slapped the ball high over the Raphoe keeper.
At this stage Raphoe would have been content with a draw but as is often the case with hockey, games can change in the blink of an eye.
Despite some good defending from the entire team Raphoe conceded another short corner late on. Again Harlequins shot high on target and despite Alan Meehan’s best efforts and getting a touch on the goal line, the ball found the net.
Raphoe are at home next Saturday to Mossley in the Kirk Cup with a 2.30pm start at the Royal and Prior School grounds.
Raphoe: Jonny Rankin, Matthew Lecky, Simon Goudie, Paul Stewart, Alan Meehan, Alexander Tinney, Luke Witherow, Ben Wallace, Keith Meehan, George Patterson, Stephen Cleverly, Jonny Long, Ian McGonigle, Rodney Bates.
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