ACHL Division 1
Cushendall 4-22 Dunloy 0-14
Playing without their county players, Cuchullian’s Dunloy proved no match for a slick Ruairi Ogs in this ACHL Division 1 clash at Middle Park, Cushendall on Sunday.
The home side led 1-5 to 0-7 at half time with their goal coming from former All Saints player, Ciaran Neeson in the 21st minute and Neill McManus hitting 0-9 for the Ruairi’s in the opening half.
It didn’t get any better for Dunloy in the second half as Alex Delargy and Joseph McLaughlin followed with goals in the 12th and 14th minute and when Paddy Burke fired home their fourth with ten minutes remaining Cushendall were out of sight.
Fred McCurry opened the scoring with a point for the home side after 42 seconds but points from Aodhan McGarry, Anton McGrath and Kevin McKeague had the visitors two ahead with 9 minutes gone.
Neil McManus replied with a couple for Ruairi Og to level the contest before Tom McFerran edged the visitors back ahead with a point in the 14th minute but that would be as good as it got for the Dunloy men.
Cushendall drew level for the second time through Ruairi McCollum and Paddy Burke and Fred McCurry edged them two in front before Paul ‘Shorty’ Shields closed the gap to one after 17 minutes.
The Ruairi Og’s were starting to get on top as Andrew Delargy and Scott Walsh extended their lead with Tom McFerran replying with Dunloy’s last score for 10 minutes with a point in the 21st minute.
Neeson’s goal, a minute later turned it decisively in the way of the home side and they would finish the half with a barrage of scores as Fred McCurry 0-1 and Neill McManus with five on the bounce moved the sea siders 12 in front with Nicky McKeague pulling one back in injury time.
Half Time: Cushendall: 1-15(18) Dunloy: 0-7(7)
Joe McLaughlin and Nicky McKeague exchanged point at the start of the second half before the ‘Dall’ replied through Neill McManus, Ciaran Neeson with Nicky McKeague and Paul Shields again responding for the visitors with point by the 10th minute.
Another fine point from McManus and two goals in quick succession from Alex Delargy and Joseph McLaughlin put paid to any lingering hopes of a Dunloy come-back as the game moved into the final quarter.
Scott Walsh added a point and Paddy Burke fired home his side’s fourth goal in the 20th minute of an increasing one sided second half but the Cuchullian’s kept battling against the odds and were rewarded with points from Nicky McKeague and Anton McGrath.
A couple in response by Neill McManus brought his total for the evening to 0-13 with Dunloy’s best on the day, Nicky McKeague concluding the scoring with a couple of late consolation point for Dunloy.
This win sees Cushendall join Rossa, St. John’s and Loughgiel on 12 points from 9 starts while Dunloy are just two behind with 10 points from the same number of games.
