Under 19B Hurling Championship semi-final
Cushendall 3-19 Sarsfield 3-12
Pics by Sean Paul McKillop and Dylan McIlwaine
A strong last quarter by Cushendall saw them see off the challenge of Sarsfields in Sunday’s Under 19B Hurling Championship semi-final at Pairc Mhuire Cushendall. Eight points up at half time (2-13 to 1-8) Cushendall appeared to be in full control, but Sarsfields fought back during the third quarter and goals from Enda McCartan and Fionn Jemfrey brought them right back into contention and when substitute Enda McCartin pointed in the 46th minute the gap was back to just two.
However Cushendall responded well and came back with a goal and three points to pull eight clear going into injury time and a late Daniel Smyth point for the visitors was a case of too little, too late.
It was score for score in the early stages with Oisin Coleman and Fionn Jemfrey on target for Sarsfields and Callagh Mooney and Charlie McAuley for Cushendall. Two Joe McNaughton points from frees pushed Cushendall ahead, and though Daniel Smyth pulled one back for Sarsfields corner forward Oisin Woodhouse struck a telling blow for the Ruairi Og when he got the first goal of the game on seven minutes, and when McNaughton added another point they were six clear. Daniel Smyth kept Sarsfields in touch with two points in quick succession, but Niall McGarrel and Joe McNaughton (2) responded to keep a bit of daylight between the teams.
A point from Jemfrey and a goal from Oisin Coleman help close the gap and when Smyth and Jemfrey added points the side were level with just five minutes of normal time left in the opening half. However Cushendall finished the opening half with a score burst of 1-4, the goal coming Cillian McNaughton in injury time, to lead by 2-13 to 1-8 at the interval.
Those goals from McCartin and Smyth during the third quarter closed things up again but Cushendall again got the upper hand down the home straight and ended up winning by seven to set up a final meeting with St Paul’s
