Minor Hurling Championship semi-final
Loughgiel 4-23 Cushendall 3-23 AET
Loughgiel’s drive for five continues in the Minor Hurling Championship after an extra time win over Cushendall in Sunday’s semi-final at Fr Healy Park. In an incredible game of hurling Loughgiel’s bid for their fifth title in succession appeared to be coming to an end when they trailed by four points (3-17 to 2-16) with just minutes to play at the end of normal time. However Roan McGarry sent over a point from a free to leave just a goal between them before Ronan Fitzgerald brought the game to extra time with a late goal.
An early point from and a goal from Oran McCambridge gave Cushendall an early lead in the first half, and when McCambridge got his second goal the Ruairis were well on top, but goals from Logan McConville and Danny O’Mullan brought the Shamrocks back into the game, and they finished the half strongly with two points apiece from Liam Glackin and Ronan Fitzgerald to lead by 2-8 to 2-6 at half time.
Early points in the second half from Dillon McNaughton and Thomas McLaughlin brought Cushendall level and for a good part of the second half it was score for score. With the sides level on 2-14 apiece Loughgiel appeared to making a break when points from Liam Glackin and Roan McGarry put them two clear, but Cushendall hit back with three points in a row, two from Oran McCambridge and one from Thomas McLaughlin to edge a point in front. When McCambridge struck for his third goal of the game to put his team four clear, it looked like they had secured a place in the final, but Roan McGarry cut it back to a goal with a pointed free before ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald fired home the goal that brought the game to extra time.
Loughgiel got the first two points in extra time through Danny O’Mullan and Roan McGarry, but Cushendall levelled matters up once again as Cahir and Oran McCambridge hit back with points apiece. Loughgiel were a point clear at half time in extra time and when Roan McGarry grabbed a goal and a point after the change of ends the Shamrocks were in control. Cushendall never gave up the fight and two more pointed frees from Thomas McLaughlin kept their hopes alive. When Ronan Fitzgerald stretched the home team’s lead to four again they looked secure, and so it proved. Cushendall’s Callagh Mooney brought his team back to within a goal, but that was as close as they would get and the Shamrocks held on to secure a final meeting with Dunloy in two weeks’ time, their ‘drive for five’ dreams still very much alive.
Overall this was a tremendous contest and for these young teams to put up a score of 7 goals and 46 points in such underfoot condition, is a testament to the skill levels on both sides.
