Cushendall: 1-19 (22) Portaferry: 1-9 (12)
Cushendall had ten points to spare over Portaferry in Monday evening’s Senior Reserve Hurling Championship game at Pairc Mhuire to secure a semi-final place against Ballycastle next Monday evening. There was little between the sides in the opening half, with Cushendall three points up at the break (1-9 to 1-6), but after the change of ends the Ruairis took control, hitting eight points without reply on their way to a decisive victory.
Cushendall started the game with a point from Andrew Delargy, but Portaferry responded with a goal from full forward Ronan Blair and a point from a free by Ryan O’Neill. Three points from Conor McClafferty and one from Seanan Black edged Cushendall ahead by the 17th minute, but the men from the Ards regained the lead with points from Danny Gilmore and Ronan Blair. With just five minutes left for play in the opening half Portaferry still held the upper hand, but a goal and two points inside two minutes for the home side, 1-1 by Sean McAfee and a point from McClafferty gave them the edge, and at half time they were three ahead. (1-9 to 1-6)
Portaferry’s Ryan O’Neill a couple of early points at the start of the second half to leave just two between the sides, but the Down men did not raise another flag for 26 minutes, by which time the game was firmly in control of the home side. Eight points in a row, four from McAfee, three from McClafferty and one from Conan Brown stretched the lead out to nine as the Ruairi Ogs cruised through to the semi-final.
