Antrim Hurling League – Division 1
Cushendall 0-23 Ballycastle 1-15
Cushendall started their league campaign with a five point win over Ballycastle on Sunday at Pairc Mhuir. In bright, breezy and cold condition it was score for score during the earky part of the first half with Dominic Delargy, Paddy Magill and Ronan McAteer figuring strongly for the Ruairis, while Neal McAuley and Fergal McKiernan and Lorcan Donnelly showing well for the Town. Five minutes before half time Ballycastle led by 0-7 to 0-6 but Cushendall hit four inside three minutes, two of them from Paddy Magill and two from right half forwards Ronan McAteer to lead by 0-10 to 0-7 at the interval.
Emmet Laverty and Paddy Magill scored early in the new half to increase the lead to five, and though Lorcan Donnelly pulled one back for Ballycastle, further points from Paddy Magill and Alex Delargy put the home side six ahead.
Neal McAuley sent over a free for Ballycastle but the introduction of young Joe McLaughlin added a bit of impetus to the home side, scoring three points inside five minutes to stretch lead even further.
Lorcan Donnelly and Neal McAuley kept the Town in touch with points in the 47th and 49th minutes, to all but seal the win. Magill, Delargy and Christy McNaughton put the gap out to ten, and though Ballycastle finished with a Lorcan Donnelly goal from a free, and two from play by Fergal McKiernan and Mark McLean it was a case of too little, too late for the visitors as Cushendall had the victory wrapped up.
