North Antrim Under 16 A Shield

Dunloy 0-18 Cushendall 3-11

Cushendall secured a place in the final of the North Antrim Under16 A Shield when they beat Dunloy by two points in Monday evening’s semi-final in Dunloy. Trailing by 0-7 to 1-3 at half time Cushendall fell six behind at one stage in the second half but they fought back and sealed the win thanks to late goals from Conlith McKinley and Padraig McKillop saw them snatch a late victory.

In a low scoring opening quarter Dunloy went ahead early on but Cushendall levelled with a point from Fiontan McQuillan. Points from Daithi McGuigan, Conal Kelly and Padraig McGilligan put Dunloy in charge but a goal in the 21^st minute by Cushendall full forward Conlith McKinley brought the visitors right back into the game. A Calum Kilgore point brought Cushendall level and they went ahead in the 25^th minute when Fiontann McQuillan sent over a 65, but Dunloy finished the half strongly and points from Osin Elliott and Conal Kelly put 0-7 to 1-3 ahead at the interval.

Dunloy took control of the game early in the second half and extended their lead to three with points from Daithi McGuigan and Conal Kelly, and even though Padraig McKillop and Fiontan McQuillan replied for Cushendall five more from the home side had them six clear by the 48^th minute. The visitors cut the deficit back to just two with three points from McKillop and one from James McAllister but a Daithi McGuigan point in the 55^th minute put three between the sides. Points from Padraig McKillop for Cushendall and Conal Kelly for Dunloy kept the gap at three and it looked like the young Cuchyllains were heading to the final but three minutes from time full forward Conlith McKinley got in for the equalising goal. Daithi McGuigan put Dunloy back in front with time almost up but Cushendll clinched a spot in the final against Loughgiel when Padraig McKillop grabbed the match winning goal in the final minute.

DUNLOY – Conal Mullan, Sean Og Martin, Barry Scott, Eoin McFerran, Darragh Mullan, Cathaoir McCloskey, Caithan Martin, Daitha McGuigan, Padraig McGilligan, Daire Crawley, Conor Kelly, Oisin Elliott, James O’Boyle, Sean Scullion, Fiachra Martin.

CUSHENDALL – Colum McKeegan, Conor McCollum, Mark Emerson, Michael Quinn, James McAlister, Pearse McKeegan, Shane McKenna, Oisin Connolly, Conal McGlynn, Padraig McKillop, Fiontan McQuillan, Calum Kilgore, Joseph McLaughlin, Conlith McKinley, Mattew McCann.

Referee – Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)

Pics by Sean Paul McKillop