U21 Hurling Championship Quarter-Final @ Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Cushendall
Cushendall 2-4 Dunloy 3-14
By Brendan McTaggart
Holders Dunloy had 13 points to spare over Cushendall on Monday evening as they put in a confident performance in their quest to retain the U21 championship. A brace of goals from Eoin O’Neill, one in either half along with a second half strike from Conal Cunning helped the Cuchullains on their way. The Ruairi’s defence was overworked on a difficult night for the home side as second half goals from Emmett ‘Mucker’ Laverty helped to put some respectability onto the score line by the full time whistle but the Cuchullains were in cruise control for large periods of the second half.
The home side started the quarter-final brightly and but for some wayward shooting, they could have held an early advantage. As it was however, Dunloy opened the scoring when the lively Chrissy McMahon dissected the posts in the third minute. Mucker Laverty returned the favour in the sixth minute but that was to be Cushendall’s only score of the half, despite playing with whatever wind advantage there was in the opening 30 minutes.
The Cuchullains were slow in finding their form in the opening quarter, thanks largely to the hustle of the Cushendall defence and midfield. They maintained pressure however and started to get their rewards. A brace of points from Coby Cunning opened a two point lead by the 11th minute before the Cuchullains started to find holes in the Ruairi’s defence. Ronan and Keelan Molloy both with goal bound efforts that were firstly saved then just wide, firing a warning shot to the home side and a taste of things to come. The pace of the Dunloy half forward line along with the guile of Coby on the edge of the square was always going to carve chances and it was O’Neill who scored the games first goal on 18 minutes. Cunning with the assist and the Cuchullains sparked into life. Four points in as many minutes from Cunning (free), McMahon, Eamon Smyth and Deáglán Smith opened a nine point lead before the Cuchuallins had another goal chance. Another ball delivered to the heart of the Cushendall defence where Cunning was fouled. Referee Darren McKeown awarded a penalty but Cunning’s effort was saved by Ruairi Sharpe with five minutes of the half remaining.
Dunloy scored the last point of the half when Keelan Molloy fired over on the stroke of the short whistle to give the Cuchullains a 1-8 to 0-1 lead.
Cushendall’s Ed McCambridge grabs the ball but loses his hurl as he and Dunloy’s centre-back Eamon Smyth battle under a high ball. Pic by John McIlwaine
Cushendall needed a quick start to the second half to claw their way back into the game. What they got was another Dunloy goal. Three minutes had lapsed when O’Neill collected a long ball before showing a clean pair of heels and firing to the top corner from an acute angle. Keelan Molloy scored his second point of the match soon after to increase the Dunloy advantage to 14 points and the Cuchullains had one foot in the semi-final with 25 minutes still to play.
Mucker Laverty finally stopped the rot for the Ruairi’s when he fired over a long range free in the eighth minute of the second half but Keelan Molloy and substitute Seaan Elliott responded in quick succession to regain the momentum for the Cuchullains.
Midfielder Conor McHugh landed a superb point from a side line after 42 minutes and Niall McCormack followed suit to reduce the Dunloy lead to 13 points but the Cuchullains once again found the back of the Ruairi’s. Cunning taking advantage of an error in the Cushendall defence before firing home to open a 16 point lead.
Cushendall hit back in the final quarter to their eternal credit, Laverty scoring two goals in the space of five minutes to help restore some pride for his side. His first from a 35 yard free, fired high to Ryan Elliott’s net while his second found the top corner in the 53rd minute.
Ronan Molloy managed to split the posts between Laverty’s majors and while Cushendall maintained their push for goals, Dunloy remained composed and fired the last two points of the game with substitute Liam McCann and O’Neill finding the target.
A disappointing hours work for the Ruairi’s who were second best to an excellent Dunloy side on the night. Laverty and Scott Walsh at midfield were shinning lights but it was a convincing win for the Cuchullains who will take some stopping in their quest to retain the U21 championship. They now face Loughgiel on Monday evening in what will be a repeat of last years final.
Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Aaron Crawford, Conor Kinsella, Adam Mullan; Ryan McGarry, Eamon Smyth, Callum Scullion; Ciarán Elliott, Deáglán Smith; Eoin O’Neill, Keelan Molloy, Ronan Molloy, Anton McGrath, Conal Cunning, Chrissy McMahon
Subs: Seaan Elliott for A McGrath (35); Liam McCann for K Molloy (42); Ryan McFarlane for C Cunning (51); Eoghan McGrath for C Scullion (58)
Cushendall: Ruairi Sharpe; Jack McKay, Liam Gillan, Cathal McDonnell; Patrick Sharpe, Francis McCurry, Niall McCormack; Conor McHugh, Scott Walsh; Emmett Laverty, Fergus McCambridge, Ronan McAteer; Ed McQuillan, Ronan McCambridge, Conall McAteer
Subs: Aidan Robson for R McAteer (HT); Chris McLaughlin for P Sharpe (37)
Scorers for Dunloy: Eoin O’Neill 2-1; Conal Cunning 1-3 (1f); Keelan Molloy 0-3; Chrissy McMahon 0-2; Eamon Smyth 0-1; Deáglán Smith 0-1; Ronan Molloy 0-1; Liam McCann 0-1; Seaan Elliott 0-1
Scorers for Cushendall: Emmett Laverty 2-2 (1-1f’s); Niall McCormack 0-1; Conor McHugh 0-1
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)