Antrim Hurling League Division 2
Cushendun 1-20 Carey Faughs 1-20
Carey Faughs sealed the Division 2 League title on Wednesday evening when a late scoring burst saw them come from behind to beat Cushendun in a top class game.
Going into the game the Carey men needed a win over the Emmet’s to finish ahead of Glenarm, both of who were on twenty points in the league table.
Most punters felt it was going to be a straight forward victory for the Ballyvoy men, especially considering the fact that the Emmet’s were short a few regulars, but the home side had other ideas and they gave as good as they got throughout the hour. Conor Bannon got the first point of the game for the home team, and though Carey levelled inside a minute, points from Dominic McQuillan, Conor Bannon and Conrad McDonnell put them three clear after six minutes. Two well taken points from Conal McGlynn brought Carey to within a point again but it was score for score for a while as Conor McHugh and Sean Mckay hit the target for the home team.
Midway through the half a Fergal McGlynn goal gave Carey a great boost but Cushendun never gave up the fight and Pearse McKeegan and the excellent Conor McHugh added late points to give their team the lead by a point at half time. 0-12 to 1-8
With Glenarm leading their game at Shaw’s Road by two points the Feystown side were on course to take the title, and when Cushendun stretched the lead to four there were a lot of very nervous Carey fans around the place. When Smiley, Conor Bannon and Conor O’Hara pushed the lead out to five the Carey men appeared to be in a bit of trouble, but somehow they snapped into gear entering the last ten minutes and rattle off a series of excellent scores. Two from James ‘Rocket’ Black, another couple of long range frees from McGlynn finally gave them a little breathing space, and though Cusheundun grabbed the last point of the game it was a case of too little, too late, and the Division Two title was back in Carey’s possession for the second time in three years.
A great start to the season for the new management team of Eddie McCloskey and Benny McCarry and with silverware already in the trophy cabinet they will now set off in pursuit of the Intermediate championship title in a couple of weeks time.
For more photos from the Carey v Cushendun game click on the link below
https://myalbum.com/album/gWKdwikGtPUWUq/?invite=c148a4b9-e0e9-427c-b598-7b9091749ad1