O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division One
St John’s 0-23 Cushendall 0-26
Cushendall came from eight points down to beat St John’s in Wednesday evening’s Division 1 Hurling League game at Corrigan Park.
The slow staring Ruairis were well off the pace as the Johnnies flew out of the traps, but the Glensmen gradually reeled in the Corrigan Park residents and overcame the odds to record a win that for long periods appeared to be beyond them.
The visitors win was not down to a couple of individuals, but had a wide range of scorers throughout the and overall that is what got them home in the end.
Ed McQuillan was first to raise a flag when he pointed in the opening minute, but the home team would hold the upper hand during the first quarter and they hit nine of the next ten points
Michael Bradley brought them level before Jack Bohill and Domhnall Nugent added a couple to give them an early cushion. Dominic Delargy replied for the Ruairs but the Johnnies hit the next seven points as Ruairi Galbriath, Aaron Bradley, Michael Dudley, Darragh McGuinness and Conor Johnston all raised white flags, and things could have been worse for the visitors had goalkeeper Conor McAlister not pulled off a couple excellent saves.
A Paddy Burke point right midway through the first hald ended a scoreless12 minute spell for the Ruairi as the Johnnies pushed 0-10 to 0-3 ahead and the smart money would have been on the mane in blue.
The unseasonably warm weather led to a water break, something we thought was a thing of the past, and like in so many of those games following lockdown the stoppage played its part in a momentum change in the game.
On the resumption the Johnnies momentum appeared to be gone and Cushendall were much improved as play resumed with Ryan McCambridge lashing over three excellent points from the back, while Delargy, Ronan McAtreer, Cormac McCafferty and Fred McCurry all raised flags as they cut the deficit back to a 0-14 to 0-10 at the short whistle. .
Early second half points from Ronan McAteer and Ed McQuillan brought the Ruairis back to within two, and though Aaron Bradley came back with one for the home side from a free, three-in-a-row from Cushendall’s Andrew Delargy, Paddy Burke and Ryan McCambridge brought the seasiders back level.
The Johnnies appeared to be getting back on top as Domnhall Nugent pointed from play and Aaron Bradley sent over two frees, but Cushendall were always in touch.
Paddy McGill and Paddy Burke sent over points to cut the gap to just two, but a Conor Johnston point gave the home team a 0-19 to 0-17 lead at the second half water break. The Ruairis pushed on with the next three points – two from Cormac McClafferty – to edge back ahead on 53 minutes and it was clear this was going to be a tough finish.
Heading down the home straight the Cushendall management sprung the free scoring Joseph McLaughlin from the bench, and the teenager would make a huge impact. The skilful forward was soon among the scorers, and although the hosts managed to get back level with three to play, the visitors would finish much stronger with McLaughlin to the fore. Michael Bradley kept the Johnnies hopes alive, but McLaughlin was at the pace of the game right away and added three points in the run in to give his team victory.
ST JOHN’S: D Cregan; O Donnelly, Ciaran Johnston, M McCartin; J Bohill (0-1), M Bradley (0-3), D McGuinness (0-2); S Wilson, C Morgan; M Dudley (0-2), D Nugent (0-2), R McNulty; A Bradley (0-7, 5 fres), Conor Johnston (0-3), R Galbraith (0-3).
Subs: L Heenan for D McGuinness (42), CJ McKenna for M Dudley (49), D McCallin for O Donnelly (53)
CUSHENDALL: C McAlister; M Quinn, L Gillen, M Burke; Scott Walsh, R McCambridge (0-4), P Burke (0-3); F McCurry (0-3), C McClafferty (0-4); R McAteer (0-2), D Delargy (0-2), Andrew Delargy (0-1); E McQuillan (0-2), P McGill (0-1 free), E Laverty.
Subs: Stephen Walsh for M Quinn (HT), N McCormack for E Laverty (40), J McLaughlin (0-4, 1 free) for P McGill (48), P McKillop for A Delargy (55), P Sharpe for R McAteer (60+2)
REFEREE: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)
