Coverage sponsored by
Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 1
Ruairi Og’s, Cushendall 0-17 Dunloy Cuchullains 0-18
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Cushendall
It wasn’t quite the ‘phoney war’ some had predicted in the run up to this contest but it did leave us with more questions than answers at the end of the hour. Dunloy ultimately got the defence of their crown off to a winning start and as predicted, they were made to fight the way against a Cushendall side who put in an excellent performance despite missing some of their household names. Goal keeper Eoin Gillan (broken thumb) was replaced by Colin Hayden between the sticks while Arron Graffin continues to recover from a knee injury sustained in their Feis Cup win with Martin Burke also missing out.
The Ruairi’s were also short the attacking talents of Neil McManus (suspension) and Conor Carson yet they pushed the Cuchullains all the way and looked the more cohesive side for long periods of this tie.
The Cuchullains weren’t at full strength themselves. Conal Cunning was serving a one match suspension for his red card in last years Ulster Championship and going by last years team in the county final, they had a further four names missing from that team sheet and handed senior championship debuts to Ronan Molloy and Deáglán Smyth but it was the brilliance of Paul Shiels that dragged the Cuchullains over the line as Shorty got scores at vital times for the reigning champions.
Dunloy’s Nigel Elliott in action during his team’s win over Cushendall. Pic by John McIlwaine
Cushendall were tactically bordering perfect on the day. They left duo Ed McQuillan and Cormac McClafferty inside while Donal McNaughton dropped deeper. The Ruairi Og man revelled in his deeper role, particularly in the opening exchanges and finished the match with three points while the McCambridge duo of Fergus and Ryan combined to split six points between them evenly throughout the hour.
Joe McCurry and Steven Walsh picked up Eoin O’Neill and Smyth, keeping them to just two points through the hour leaving Dunloy reliant on the talents of Shorty and Keelan Molloy for their scores. Molloy would finish the match with four points from play, Shorty with a tally of three from play in his total of 10 points but our man of the match was Kevin Molloy. The Dunloy centre half, in the second half especially, won innumerable ball as the Cuchullains looked to find a winning formula. In a match that may have lacked quality at times, it made up for it in intensity and as the game went to the final quarter, ‘Bunga’ excelled to take Dunloy over the line. Both he and Conor McKinley rose to the challenge in the closing stages to help ensure the Cuchullains can look forward to their next match against Sarsfields with a win under their belt.
With Cushendall playing with the wind in the first half, Fergus McCambridge and Shiels (free) swapped scores in the opening two minutes. Dunloy took the lead by the fourth minute when McKinley collected the ball in defence before rampaging up the pitch and splitting the posts.
The first goal chance of the game came soon after, Cormac McClafferty latching onto the end of a long ball from Paddy McGill but his first times shot went to the left of the posts and wide. Natty McNaughton and Eoghan Campbell scored either side of Dunloy’s first goal opportunity to give the Ruairi’s the lead again. The Cuchullains chance falling to Smyth as he collected the sliotar down the left before firing his shot in from an acute angle. The sliotar sailed beyond the far post however and while the tone was set with some enterprising play in the opening exchanges, both sides were guilty of missing passes or lacking accuracy in front of the goals.
Eoin O’Neill and Keelan Molloy both raised white flags in the 13th minute to give Dunloy a 0-4 to 0-3 lead as both sides searched for supremacy. Points from Natty and McClafferty were answered by scores from O’Neill and Keelan Molloy as Dunloy still held their one point lead with ten minutes to play in the first half.
Cushendall began to dominate in the rucks and win the lions share of second phase ball. Three points from McGill (two frees) and one each for Natty McNaughton and Ryan McCambridge underlined their dominance as they took a four point lead with less than three minutes of the first half remaining.
The Cuchullains hit back however and finished the half on top. A trio of points from Shorty (two frees) and Keelan Molloy’s third of the half ensured the scores were level at the short whistle.
It was a devastating ending to the first half by the Cuchullains and the first time in the match that they showed their attacking prowess. If anything, half time came at an inopportune time for the Dunloy men but on reflection, they would have been content to go into the half time break back on level terms.
Cushendall’s David Kearney in action against Dunloy’s Paul Shiels. Pic by John McIlwaine
Cushendall made an excellent start to the second half though to regain control. Points from McGill (free) and Ryan McCambridge inside 60 seconds of the restart was followed soon after by Fergus McCambridge’s second point of the match to restore the Ruairi’s three point advantage. A brace of points from Nigel Elliott and Shiels (free) brought the Cuchullains back to within touching distance shortly after but the Ruairi’s always managed to edge ahead. McGill (free) edged Cushendall two points ahead once again midway through the half before a brace of scores from Shiels (one free) restored parity once again. It could have been better for the Cuchullains but for the reflexes of Colin Hayden between the posts for the home side. The Ruairi Og shot stopper denying Keelan Molloy as Dunloy began to find space in the Cushendall defence.
Cushendall responded with an inspirational point from Ryan McCambridge – the Ruairi’s half forward shrugging off a couple of heavy tackles before firing over from distance with Fergus McCambridge also taking his tally to three points for the match soon after to give the home side a two point lead with eight minutes to play.
The Cuchullains and Shorty began to turn the screw however. Keelan Molloy’s fourth point of the match was followed by three white flags by the influential Shiels to give Dunloy a two point in the last minute of normal time.
Dunloy’s Keelan Molloy breaks clear of Cushendall’s Eoghan Campbell and David Kearney. Pic by John McIlwaine
Cushendall pushed in the time that remained and Eoghan Campbell left the minimum between the sides once again in the first minute of normal time and when a free was taken forward for indiscipline it looked like the Ruairi’s would salvage a deserving draw from their championship opener. McGill’s free from all of 80 yards dropped short and the Cuchullains cleared the danger in what would be the last action of the match.
Both sides will face Sarsfields in the coming weeks and will be confident of getting the points required to advance to the semi-finals. Both sides are capable of playing better and at a higher standard of quality. Cushendall will take heart from a very good performance despite missing a few regulars while the Cuchullains showed that they have the champions instinct of never knowing when they’re beaten. Onto the next one.
TEAMS
Cushendall: Colin Hayden; Joe McCurry, Paddy Burke, Stephen Walsh; Sean Delargy, Eoghan Campbell, David Kearney; Paddy McGill, Fred McCurry; Niall McCormick, Fergus McCambridge, Ryan McCambridge; Cormac McClafferty, Donal McNaughton, Ed McQuillan.
Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, James Duffin, Conor McKinley; Ronan Molloy, Kevin Molloy, Paudie Shivers; Nicky McKeague, Shane Dooey; Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Paul Shiels; Eoin O’Neill, Chrissy Brogan, Deáglán Smyth.
Scorers for Cushendall: Paddy McGill 0-5 (4 f’s); Fergus McCambridge 0-3; Ryan McCambridge 0-3; Donal McNaughton 0-3; Eoghan Campbell 0-2; Cormac McClafferty 0-1
Scorers for Dunloy: Paul Shiels 0-10 (7 f’s); Keelan Molloy 0-4; Eoin O’Neill 0-2; Conor McKinley 0-1; Nigel Elliott 0-1
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)
Pics by John McIlwaine