Loughgiel retain U16 title

North Antrim Under 16 Hurling

Loughgiel 3-20 Cushendall 1-17

Loughgiel Shamrocks retained their U16 Hurling Championship with a strong second half display against Cushendall Ruairi Ogs.
Played in near perfect conditions in Ballycastle this game finished off the season for the u16 boys. 2018 McMullan Cup winners verses last year`s Championship winners there is very little between these two groups. Infact the first half showed this with never more than a point between the two teams although Loughgiel had the best goal scoring opportunities with net minder Colm McKeegan making an excellent save from Eunan Laverty. Halftime score Loughgiel 0-10 Cushendall 0-09.
If it was all points in the first half the goals came quickly in the second with young Ronan McCollum scoring a rocket within 2 minutes of the restart and shortly afterwards Christy McGarry hit the net to stretch the lead out five points. Cushendall responded with a goal from Conlith McKinley but within a minute Christy McGarry responded to a ball coming off an upright to ping the net once more. Further points from Rian McMullan, a spectacular pick and strike from Damien Quinn and a great effort from Dylan Devlin ensured the silverware made its way back to Loughgiel. Cushendall to their credit never gave in and late points from Fionntain McQuillan and Conlith McKinley tightened the scoreline in. Cushendall had late chances but Kevin McAuley in the Loughgiel goals pulled off some excellent saves.

Loughgiel – Kevin McAuley, Tiernan McCaughan, Rory McCloskey, Conall McCloskey [Connor Dickson], Ruairi McCormick, Enda McGarry, Cahir Connolly, Dylan Devlin 0-01, Eunan Laverty, Conor O`Mullan 0-01, Conor McCormick 0-01, Damien Quinn 0-03, Christy McGarry 2-00, Rian McMullan 0-11, Ronan McCollum 1-03

Cushendall – Colm McKeegan, James McAllister, Pearse McKeegan, Declan McGill [Michael Quinn], Conor McCollam, Mark Emerson, Shane McKenna, Conall McGlynn 0-01, Callum Kilgore, Fionntain McQuillan 0-08, Oisin Connolly 0-02, Padraig McKillop 0-03, Joseph McNaughton [Joseph McLaughlin], Conlith McKinkey 1-03, Mathew McCann [Cillian McNaughton]