Mc Caughan Cup Final.
Shane O Neills 1:16 Loughgiel 2:19
Report by Pete Hyndman
Photos by Brian Quinn
Loughgiel won the MC Caughan Cup for the fifth consecutive year against a strong Glenarm side on a wet Tuesday evening at the Brustin Braes in Larne. While Hurricane Dorian wass tearing the Bahama’s apart, the rain fell heavy on the north Antrim coast, especially in the second half, forcing both teams to play against some strong showers. This was definitely not a night for fast flowing hurling. Goals usually help seal victory and two majors for the red and white’s proved crucial as a six point win helped lift the silverware for the fifth year in a row.
First point in this final fell to the Feystown boys when Darren Hamill pinched a ball from Ronan Mc Fadden, and fed Dylan McLaughlin who obliged by slotting over the bar. Loughgiel hit back with a brace from a converted free from Niall Mc Fadden and one from Aodhan Mc Fadden. On the fifth minute Glenarm’s Paddy Mc Auley hit a nice effort,with McLaughlin hitting his second point of the evening to put the Feystown men two ahead. Darren Hamill was winning a lot of dirty ball and on one occasion he evaded a couple of robust challenges and shot at goal, only for shot stopper Johnny Campbell to parry the sliotar round the post for a “65” which Daniel Black pointed. Cahir Mc Grath and Conor Gillan replied for the Shamrocks to level this tight tussle. Hamill added another fine score which again was cancelled out when Cahir McGrath hit his second white flag effort from play, but Hamill again drove over the Campbell crossbar with Dylan McLaughlin winning a diagonal hit ball from defence and driving over the bar.
Caolan McIlhatton hit a point for the Lough Rd boys but for a rare defencive error Declan McDermott pounced on a loose ball and rifled it between the posts for a point. Laverty and Aodhan Mc Fadden then hit back to back points for the red and white’s with half time fast approaching but there soon followed a crazy scoring faze between the two teams. Three in a row for the Feystown boys with a McLaughlin double (one a free) and one from Darren Hamill. Glenarm would have taken this score at the short whistle, but the Shamrocks were not finished yet, and when they dropped a high ball in and the dropped a high ball ‘in around the house’ Connor Deery pulled the sliotar into Liam Mulvenna’s net after a goalmouth scramble. A minute later the red and whites forwards drove another ball goalwards only to be denied by a heroic save from Mulvenna, but luck was not on the netminder’s side and the rebound was drilled to the net by the ever sharp Shamrock forwards. Young McLaughlin drove over another free for a shell-shocked Shane O Neill’s to end the first half Loughgiel 2-8 Glenarm 012, those two late goals proving crucial.
Niall McFadden’s free taking has played pivotal role in this Loughgiel win and he added another early in the second period. Glenarm opened their second half scoring when corner forward Sean O’Hare turned his marker and from a very tight angle he slotted over the bar, and on 37 minutes the Blues got a lifeline when Hamill won a cleared ball from Jake Hamilton before selling the Shamrocks defence a neat dummy, before passing to the unmarked McLaughlin who smashed the ball home for a Glenarm major!! GAME ON…..
McFadden pointed again from a dead ball but Daniel Black replied for Glenarm with a fine strike from 40 metres which sailed between the Loughgiel posts. McFadden bagged another pointed from a placed ball to signal the start of a purple patch for the Shamrocks in the next six minute’s as they five on the trot with Mc Fadden slotting three more and Aodhan Mc Fadden and McIlhatton getting one apiece as the men in red regained control of the game. McLaughlin pulled one back for Glenarm, but once again the Shamrocks had an answer and Laverty sent one over at the other end.
Ciaran Matthews, Joseph Cunning and Dan O Boyle where introduced for the Glenarm team, resting up Kevin O Boyle, Sean O Hare and Conal Ward who all had a good 55 minute’s. McFadden hit another couple of fine scores for Loughgiel and as the rain fell heavily before Dylan McLaughlin struck a fine free which penetrated the black sky and flew over Campbell’s bar for Glenarm’s final score. However it was to be Loughgiel night yet again and another point from ‘Cowboy’ McFadden put the seal on a fine individual display as they achieved a five in row of McCaughan titles. Dublin take note!
Glenarm always raise their game against Loughgiel and this proved again that on their day they can match the stronger teams. The Feystown boys can follow on from this tight tussle, which will hopefully stand them in good stead in their up-coming Junior Championship semi-final.
Decky McDermott and Jake Hamilton played well in defence, while Conal Ward and Paddy Mc Auley worked hard and distributed the ball well. Up front Dylan McLaughlin, Dan Black and Darren Hamill were the danger men for the Feystown outfit. Loughgiel’s Niall McFadden was their scoring talisman hitting 11 points. Damian Laverty assisted him with Corey Blair and Ronan McFadden working hard in defence. The evergreen Johnny Campbell pulled off a couple of good saves just as Glenarm where trying to get their noses in front, showing no mercy to his brother-in-law Darren Hamill.
Massive credit to the two teams and supporters for playing in such extreme conditions, and big thanks to Latharna Og for hosting the game.
LOUGHGIEL: Johnny Campbell, Cormac Watt, Ronan McFadden, Ryan Cassley, Corey Blair, Caolan Blair, Conor Carey, Reece Watt, Conor Gillan, Damian Laverty, Niall McFadden, Aodhan McFadden, Caolan McIhatton, Cahir McGrath, Conor Deery.
GLENARM: Liam Mulvenna, Paul Magill, Barry Hamill, Aodhan O’Neill, Declan McDermott, Jake Hamilton, Ben O’Boyle, Conal Ward, Daniel Black, Patrick McAuley, Dylan McLaughlin, Ryan McLaughlin, Kevin O’Boyle, Darren Hamill, Sean O’Hare.
Subs – Ciaran Matthews, Joseph Cunning and Dan O Boyle
Referee Malachy Leech (Oisins)
