AIB Ulster Senior Club Hurling Final
Ruairí Óg Cushendall (Antrim) 0-20 Slaughtneil (Derry) 2-10
RUAIRÍ Óg Cushendall clinched another AIB Ulster hurling club title when they beat former kingpins Slaughtneil in Páirc Esler on Sunday. The only time they looked shaky was from the 10th to the 20th minutes of the first half when they conceded 1-4 without reply. But by half-time they had fought back and taken the lead with five excellent points, the pick of them a fantastic effort from team captain Neil McManus from well inside his own half.
After the break Cushendall took control and soon opened a six point lead, and not even a late rally from the Derry champions could reel them in. Slaughtneil have beaten Dunloy and Loughgiel during their great run in Ulster over the past ten years, but on the three occasiosns they have faced the Ruairi Ogs they have come up just short. Every game between them has been close but Cushendall have always had their number. ther were times in today’s game when they appeared to be getting the upper hand but once again the Antrim champions found an answer.
The Ruairis were the much sharper team throughout, Slaughtneil’s eleven week wait since they defeated Kevin Lynch’s in the Derry decider must surely have had an effect on their preperations. Cushendall on the other hand had been battled-hardened by a tough campaign in Antrim and then a semi-final scare from Portaferry a fortnight ago.
Player of the match went to Ed McQuillan who was a late replacement in the team. McQuillan just returened to the team this season after a bad run of injuries but today he was in superb form, picking off four great points, from play, while 18 years old Joseph McLaughlin fired over three top class scores to augment McManus’ accuracy from the dead ball. But there were many heroes for the ‘Dall all around the pitch.
McQuillan was on the mark early in the game and McManus added two frees to Eoin Campbell’s opening point as Cushendall took a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes.
However a Brendan Rogers point sparked Slaughtneil into action and points from Mark McGuigan and Cormac O’Doherty frees (two) saw the Derry champions take the lead before O’Doherty intercepted a pass from Eoin Campbell and the sliotar quickly passed through hands for Eamon Cassidy to find the corner of the net.
Cushendall appeared to be in a bit of bother, but their response was quick and decisive and points from McManus (two frees), Ronan McAteer, McQuillan, McLaughlin and Man of the Match McQuillan again sent the ‘Dall in with a narrow lead at the break. (0-10 to 1-6)
They came out full of bite and ten minutes into the second half had stretched their lead to six points with scores from the same quartet of players who got them back into the game in the run in to half time.
Sé McGuigan finally got Slaughtneil going again with a 46th minute point, but their attacks were less structured than Cushendall’s and the high ball in was well handled by the Burkes, Liam Gillan and Eoin Campbell who seemed to be everywhere as a sweeper in front of them.
The only hiccup came in the 54th minute when Shea Cassidy stole in for a goal and Shane McGuigan added a point to close the gap to three, and suddenly there was another mini crisis.
However McManus cleverly won himself a free that he converted and that was a crucial insurance point as Peter McCullagh and Scott Walsh exchanged points.
Shane McGuigan again closed the gap to three points, but fittingly Joe McLaughlin sent a really stylish shot over his left shoulder from right under the stand to clinch a famous win.
Slaughtneil had a late chance to pull back a goal when they were awarded a free 25 metres from goal but Cormac O’Doherty’s well struck shot was well saved by C
The victory moves Cushendall one ahead of Dunloy’s tally of 11 provincial titles as they look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final with Leinster champions Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels on the weekend of 15/16 December.
Cushendall:
C McAllister; L Gillan, P Burke, M Burke; S Walsh (0-1), E Campbell (0-1), R McCollam; F McCurry, R McCambridge; R McAteer (0-2), N McManus (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), F McCambridge (0-1); E McQuillan (0-4), N McCormack, J McLaughlin (0-3)
Subs: A Delargy for N McCormack (48)
Slaughtneil:
O O’Doherty; P McNeill, S Cassidy; K McKaigue; Shane McGuigan (0-2), R Ó Mianáin, C McKaigue, M McGrath; J Cassidy, E Cassidy (1-0); M McGuigan (0-1), C O’Doherty (0-4 frees), Sé McGuigan (0-1); G Bradley, B Rogers (0-1)
Subs: Shea Cassidy (1-0) for G Bradley (22), J McGuigan for E Cassidy (41), P McCullagh (0-1) for M McGuigan (48)
Referee: James Clarke (Cavan)
Ed McQuillan receives the Man of the Match award
