AIB Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship semi-final
Cushendun Robert Emmet’s (Antrim) 2-23
Sean Treacy’s, Lurgan (Armagh) 1-10
The superior stick work and knowhow of Cushendun proved the difference as a slick Emmet’s side proved too good in the end for a battling Sean Tracey’s of Lurgan in this Ulster Junior Hurling championship semi-final at Owen Beg on Sunday.
Sean Tracey’s drew level with their eventual conquerors after 19 minutes when a long range free from Danny Magee deceived Emmet’s keeper Eoin Magee and his defence and dipped under the bar in the blinding sun and it looked like the Armagh champions might make a game of it at this stage.
It failed to disrupt the Antrim champions rhythm however as they rattled over six points without reply to lead 0-13 to 1-4 at the half way stage.
After the break Cushendun found another gear as they put the opposition under pressure from the throw in and second half goals from James Morgan and Rory McQuillan killed off the Tracey’s challenge.
Robert Emmet’s raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 11 minutes with Conleth McNeill’s long range free from inside his own half being the pick of the early scores.
Danny Magee kept Sean Tracey’s in touch as he converted three frees in the opening quarter and it was a long-range free from the corner-forward which led to the game’s opening goal.
From just inside the ’65, Magee’s effort dipped under the crossbar as Cushendun goalkeeper Eoin Magee lost the flight of the sliotar in the blinding sun.
With the sides now level at 0-6 to 1-3, Cushendun stepped up their game in the second quarter – scoring 0-6 without reply with Pierce Bannon landing three from play while McNeill (two) and Conor McHugh added three frees.
The Armagh champions were finding it difficult to penetrate a strong Emmet’s defence but Michael Doran scored his side’s first point from play on the half-hour mark before the excellent McNeill gave his side a six-point interval lead with another free in injury-time.
Danny Magee continued to show unerring accuracy from the placed ball and he hit two more at the start of the second half but these scores were cancelled out by Conleth McNeill and Conor McHugh from frees at the other end.
Cushendun struck a decisive blow in the 40th minute when David Kilgore raced onto Donal O’Hara’s clearance out of defence and showed Barry McDonald a clean pair of heels before passing inside to James Morgan, who gave Paul Hand in the Sean Tracey’s goal no chance.
Morgan’s goal rattled the Lurgan men as Conor McHugh, Matthew McCartin and Conleth McNeill followed with unanswered points by the end of the third quarter.
To their credit Sean Tracey’s kept fighting against the odds with Patrick Lyness and the impressive Danny Magee (three frees) finding the target but just when it looked like they were gaining some momentum Cushendun found another gear.
Despite emptying their bench they finished with a flourish with Rory McQuillan getting their second goal and Conor McHugh, Eoin McQuillan, Pierce Bannon, Conor Bannon and McHugh again all on target.
It could have been even worse for the Armagh side as David Kilgore raced clear on goal again but his well struck shot was brilliantly saved by Paul Hand in the Sean Tracey’s goals.
In the end there was sixteen points between the sides and on this form the Robert Emmet’s will take some beating in the final with their defence marshalled by Donal O’Hara and Aidan Corbett excellent and giving nothing away.
Matthew McCartin and the sweet striking Conor McHugh were always on top at mid-field while Pierce Bannon, David Kilgore and Conleth McNeill were best in a potent attack.
CUSHENDUN: E Magee, S Hamilton, A Corbett, J McKay; M Scally, D O’Hara, T Scally, M McCartin (0-1), C McHugh (0-7, 0-5fs, 0-1 ’65); P Bannon (0-5), E Duffin, D McQuillan; J Morgan (1-0), C McNeill (0-6, 0-5fs), D Kilgore (0-2).
Subs: E McQuillan (0-1)for E Duffin (42mins), N McAuley for Scally (46mins), RJ McQuillan(1-0) for Morgan (47mins), C Bannon (0-1) for D McQuillan (59mins), M Dunne for McNeill (60mins).
SEAN TREACY’S: P Hand; B McDonald, R Sands, R Shine; C McCavanagh, A Carville, R Magee; M Hamilton, M Ward; O McCann, J McKeever, M Doran (0-1); R Daly, D Maher, D Magee (1-7, 1-6fs).
Subs: P Lyness (0-1) for Maher (HT), T McKavanagh for Hamilton (44mins), P Scullion (0-1) for Daly (50mins), D Austin for Shine (57mins), C McCann for Scullion (63mins).
REFEREE: G O’Neill (Derry)