All County Hurling League – Division 3
Cushendun 1-14 Gort na Mona 1-15
A point in the third minute of injury time by Thomas McCaffrey gave Got na Mona victory over Cushendun in Sunday’s league game at The Rigs, Cushendun. The Emmets thought they had salvaged a point after Conlaoth McNeill had landed two long range points from frees in the 60th and 61st minutes but there was still a few seconds of added time left to play and McCaffery struck with practically the puc of the game to send the Gorts home with both points.
A Christopher McErlean goal in the fifth minute had given Gort na Mona and early lead and with Dessie McClean adding two points and Padge McHugh another they went three clear by the eleventh minute, all three Cushenun points coming from Conor McHugh frees.
Two more from Conor McHugh brought Cushendun back to within a point and when the veteran Rory McQuillan doubled on a high ball at the edge of the square to send it to the Gorts net the Emmet’s were two clear. The lead didn’t last long though as the visitors came back with three on the trot to edge out an exciting second quarter and though the home team fought back Gort na Mona led by 1-9 to 1-8 at half time.
Two Dessie McClean points early in the second half stretched the Belfast side’s lead to three a lead they held until the final ten minutes when three on the bounce from Conor McHugh and Conlaoth McNeill (2). Gort na Mona edged back ahead when Padge McHugh and Dessie McClean hit points in the 56th and 57th minutes, and they were still two to the good as the game entered injury time. The Emmet’s fans thought they had salvaged a draw when Conlaoth McNeill landed two great points from frees in injury time, but Thomas McCaffrey sealed the win for the Gorts with his last gasp point.
Conlaoth McNeill (left) thought he had salvaged a point for Cushenun with two late points from free but Thomas McCaffrey hit the winner for Gort na Mona to seal the win.
Cushendun
Eoin Magee, Sean Hamilton, Mark Scally, Jack McKay, Pearse Bannon, Matthew McCartin, Tom Scally, Conor McHugh, Eoin McQuillan, James Morgan, Eugene Duffin, Conlaoth McNeill, Alex McMullan, Rory McQuillan, Conor Bannon.
Dominic McQuillan for Alex McMullan
Mickey Dunne for James Morgan
Gorts
Martin Ward, Kevin Valliday, Mark Rea, Conor Caldwell, Sean Doyle, Conor McCann, Colm Scullion, Patrick McCaffrey, Declan Hayes, Thomas McCaffrey, Padge McHugh, Darren Boyd, Dessie McClean, Christopher McErlean, Ciaran McMullan.
Referee – Malachy Leech (Oisins)