John West Féile na nGael
Final Heartbreak for the club’s Camogs
Photos by Mickey Morgan
Match details by Ciara Mooney
Cushendall Ruairi Og won the National Feile Division 2 title when they beat all comers at the National finals at Kildalkey, Co Meath on Saturday. The Antrim champions produced a series of excellent display as they went unbeaten throughout the day, culminating in a brilliant final win over Oliver Plunkett’s of Westmeath by 1-7 to 1-6.
In their opening game of the day the Ruairis faced Maynooth from Kildare in what turned out to be a really tough battle. Points from Fintan McKillop and Oran McCambridge, on either side of a Fintan Bradley goal gave the Antrim champions a 1-2 to 0-4 half time lead.
A Thomas McLaughlin point put them two ahead early in the second half but Maynooth hit back with a goal and a point to retake the lead. However the Cushendall boys dug deep and two pointed frees by Fintan Bradley and one from Callagh Mooney put them a point ahead, before Mooney and Thomas McLaughlin sealed the win with points from play.
Game two in the group saw the Antrim champions have an easier passage as they beat Ballygalget of Down. The Ruairis proved too strong on the day for the boys from the Ards, leading by seven at half time they went on to run out winners by fifteen at the end. Shann McKeegan and Sean Paul McNaughton got their team’s goals while Fintan Bradley got 0-3, Fintan McKillop, Oran Mccambridge, Dairi Higgins, Cathair McCambridge and Callagh Mooney a point each.
Game 3 was a really tense affair with the boys from the Glens just edging home against Offaly champions Killcormac Killoughey. A strong irst half was to prove vital in the end as points from Fintan Bradley, Dairi Higgins, Oran McCambride and Nicholas McLaughlin, plus a goal from Thomas McLaughlin gave them a 1-4 to 0-3 lead at the break. The Offaly champions came back with two points after the break, but Oran McCambridge and Thomas McLaughlin cancelled those out. However a late goal from Kilcormac Killoughey left it a tense finish, but Cushendall showed great character to hold on to secure a semi-final spot.
The semi-final pitted the Antrim champions against their Derry counterparts Kevin Lynch’s Dungiven, and things did not look good when they trailed by 0-3 to 0-0 at half time. A goal from Nicholas McLaughlin early in the second half proved the perfect tonic, and though Dungiven came back with a point to go back ahead, Cushendall finished strongly with a point from Fintan McKillop and two from Fintan Bradley to seal a place in the final.
What a battle the final turned out to be against Westmeath champions Oliver Plunkett’s. Just like the semi-final the Antrim boys were under the cosh in the first half when facing the breeze, and they trailed at half time by 1-4 to 0-3, their points coming from Oran McCambridge, Fintan McKillop and Dairi Higgins. An Oran McCambridge goal early in the second half proved the boost the Ruairis needed and four points from Fintan Bradley, three from frees and one from play the Feile title was heading back to the Glens of Antrim
Last night they returned to Cushendall as heroes, along with the Camogie team, who suffered the heartbreak of defeat in the final. Another memorable day for the Ruairi Og club, and one that will remembered for long and many a day.
Congratulations Ruairi Og
