Cushendall beat Glenarm to win back the Countess of Antrim Cup

Countess of Antrim Cup final

Cushendall 2-18 Glenarm 1-12

Cushendall won the Countess of Antrim Cup when they beat the holders Glenarm in Tuesday evening’s final on the beautifully prepared pitch Carey. During the first half Glenarm played really well, despite a slow start, and with just five minutes of the first half left to play they trailed by just a point. However Cushendall finished the half really strongly and by the time referee Anthony McAuley sounded the half time whistle they were five to the good, after hitting four unanswered points.

**Joe McLaughlin who showed his wide range of skills when introuduced as a second hal substitute**

When the Ruairis started the second half just as stongly as they had ended the first, with points from Christy McNaughton and Austin Birt, plus a great goal from team captain Stephen Walsh, there was no way back for the Shane O’Neill’s side, and the trophy was heading to the Lurig Inn.

Two points from full forward Christy McNaughton and one from Ed McQuillan got Cushendall off to a great start, but Glenarm soon settled and they closed the gap to a single point when Niall McGarrel and Ryan McLoughlin fired over at the other end. When Ed McQuillan got in for a Cushendall goal Glenarm looked to be in big trouble, but a goal from Ciaran Magill and points from Magill and Brendad McDermot brought them right back into the game.

Right on the money! Glenarm’s Aidan Scullion catches Cushendall’s Ed McQuillan perfectly with a shoulder charge during the Countess of Antrim Cup final in Carey.

Two points from Christy McNaughton and one from Ed McQuillan put Cushendall back in charge but McGarrel, Magill and McDermott hit back to keep them very much in the game. They were just a point in arrears with just four minutes of the first half left to play, but the Ruairis finished the half strongly with two points from Paddy Sharpe plus one each from Austin Birt and Christy McNaughton to lead by 1-10 to 1-8 at the break.

Points from Christy McNaughton and Austin Birt, plus a Stephen Walsh goal, which came after a great three man move, stretched the lead out to seven and put the ‘Dall men in a very strong position. A good spell midway through the second half which saw Ciaran Magill hit three points without reply closed the gap to six, but that was as close as they would get and a lovely little cameo by second half substitute Joe McLaughlin, which yielded four excellent points, saw the Ruairis home in style.