Raphoe suffer heavy defeat away to Mossley in Linden Cup 

Raphoe travelled to The Glade to take on Mossley in another Linden Cup group match but were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat. 

Mossley, fresh down from Premier League hockey last season, were always going be a difficult opponent to deal with. 

But the young Raphoe side started well and held their own in the first quarter with some nice possession inside the Mossley half allowed Jonny Long to slip through Matty Lecky and Lecky made no mistake and slotted it home for Raphoe as the first quarter finished with Raphoe 1-0 up.

Mossley started to get back into the game in the second quarter and put the pressure on Raphoe’s back four and clawed back three goals. At half-time, Mossley led 3-1.

Into the second half and Mossley really started to show their class and experience against a tired Raphoe side and things went all there way with three more goals in the third quarter half finishing the game with harsh and unreflecting 10-1 scoreline. Raphoe face Antrim next week and a win will see them qualify from group stage.

Meanwhile, on a cold Friday night in Cookstown, Raphoe travelled away to Cookstown thirds in the second match of the League Cup. With a tough game expected it definitely lived up to expectations.

Raphoe started strong with young William Meehan making a great run into the d and winning a short. But Raphoe couldn't get the set piece on target.

The second quarter proved more of the same. On a game that was full of intensity chances were hard came by with two short corners again coming to nothing.

Into the second half and Cookstown came out strong but a lot of great defending by the Raphoe backline to keep the game level and had a few chances of their own going the other way with Ian McGonigle flashing a reverse shot just wide.

Into the fourth quarter and this is where games are won and lost. And Raphoe battled hard creating the best of the chances. 

William Meehan fed through one on one from George Patterson denied by a great save. Then McGonigle on the reverse again hitting the side netting. 

Then disaster strikes. Raphoe feeling they should have had a short corner at one end came to nothing and with the pace of the Cookstown break, hearts were broke. 

A slap from outside the D took the faintest of touches to give Cookstown the lead with two minutes remaining. 

Cookstown then held strong to see out the win. All in all a great game of hockey that was played in the right spirits. 

In a team filled with old heads it has to be said that the young Raphoe lads Jack Lannon, Jamie Russel and William Meehan were outstanding

The Raphoe thirds game with called off as Lisnagarvey would not travel. Awarded with a 3-0 win and points but it Unfortunate for the lads to not get a game.