DOWN MEMORY LANE
Back in 1989 Cushendun beat Dunloy B in the Countess of Antrim Cup Final (North Antrim Intermediate Championship) in Carey, a Dunloy team with a sprinkling of the team who would go on to make the breakthrough at senior the following season. On a wet and windy day ‘Soddy’ O’Hare danced his way around the Dunloy defenders to score a match winning hat-trick.
Countess of Antrim final 1989
Cushendun 4-6 Dunloy B 1-9
A hat-trick of goals from corner-forward Paddy ‘Soddy’ O’Hara helped Cushendun to a Countess of Antrim Cup final win over Dunloy B in a game played in terrible weather conditions at St Patrick’s Park, Carey.
O’Hara found the net twice within thirty seconds in the first half to open up a ten point lead, and in the second half when Dunloy had reduced the deficit to just three he struck again to put the Emmet’s back in firm control.
On a damp, dark afternoon, with a diagonal wind making hurling difficult, both teams deserve great credit for serving up a really enjoyable game. The opening exchanges were scrappy, and at times heated, but when match referee Tommy McIntyre sent off two players (one from each side) after just ten minutes, the game settled into a well contested affair.
Cushendun were first to score when Denis McHenry pointed from play in the fifth minute and they went two up soon afterwards when Gerard Scally sent over a 21 yard free. A flare-up in the tenth minute saw Cushendun’s Brendan Magee and Dunloy’s Michael Maguire make an early exit and when play resumed Dunloy hit back with points from Malachy Elliott and James McLean to level the scores at the end of the opening quarter.
Soddy O’Hara first made his presence felt in the sixteenth minute when he pointed from play, a score that was to mark the start of a real ‘purple patch’ for Cushendun. Denis McHenry goaled with a great overhead strike minutes later, and though Eamon McKee temporarily stemmed the tide with a Dunloy point soon afterwards, the Emmets continued their onslaught with a McHenry point and two quick-fire goals from O’Hara. This put Cushendun ten clear with just ten minutes of the opening half remaining, and the game looked as good as over, but Dunloy battled back, and a goal and three points inside five minutes. Former Antrim and Ulster star James McLean was the man who did the damage when he rifled in a goal from a penalty, before adding two points from frees, and when Chris Kearns added a point just on half time there was just four between the teams at the short whistle.
On the restart Dunloy cut the deficit back to just two when Eamon McKee and Chris Kearns added points, but Gerard Scally eased the pressure on the Emmets when he pointed a free to put the lead out to three again. It was then that Soddy really proved his worth when popped up to complete his hat-trick as he fired home goal number three. Chris Kearns pulled one back for Dunloy but Gerard Scally replied with another pointed free in the 44th minute, which incredibly proved to be the last score of the game.
The remaining sixteen minutes produced plenty of action but in the worsening conditions neither team could raise a flag and Cushendun held on safely to collect the trophy.
Best for Cushendun were Dominic Magee, John McSparran, Eamon McKeegan, Laurence Magee, Emmet O’Hara, Dennis McHenry, Gerrard Scally and hat-trick hero Soddy O’Hara.
Dunloy were best served by Danny Quinn, Aidan McIlhatton, oe McAllister, Eamon McKee, Sean Mullan, Kames McLean and substitute Paul Duffin.
Cushendun scorers – Soddy O’Hara 3-1; Denis McHenry 1-2; Gerard Scally 0-2.
Dunloy scorers – James McLean (1-3); Chris Kearns 0-3; Eamon McKee 0-2; Malachy Elliott 0-1.
CUSHEDUN – D Magee, D McAlister, J McSparran, E McKeegan, D McKillen, L Magee, D McQuillan, L Woodburn, D Magee, E O’Hara, G Scally, B McKay, D McHenry, A Magee, P O’Hara.
DUNLOY – P Brogan, M McPoland, D Quinn, A McIhatton, J Cunning, J McAllister, D McKee, S Mullan, M Maguire, C Kearns, G Cunning, M Elliott, J McLean, J Dixon, E McKee.
Subs – P Cunning for Duffin
Referee – Tommy McIntrye (Loughgiel Shamrocks)
