O’Neill’s Sportswear Antrim Hurling League – Division 1
Cushendall: 0-14(14) Loughgiel: 2-18(24)
PICS BY SEAN PAUL McKILLOP
A sharp and fit looking Loughgiel team picked up two more league points when they travelled to Cushendall on Sunday evening and come away with a comfortable ten point win. Admittedly the Cushendall side was well understrength but Loughgiel will be happy with their teams’ display as the picked off some excellent scores throughout the hour.
The early stages were competitive but Loughgiel got on the board first when Christy McGarry and Daniel McCloskey hit the first two scores, but Neill McManus cut the gap back to a point. McManus kept the Ruairis in touch throughout the first half, scoring nine of his team’s first half total of ten, most of them from frees.
A goal from corner forward Eoin McGarry and a point from Daniel McCloskey in the 9th and 10th minutes gain the upper hand and as the half advanced they opened that gap to six by the half time whistle, Shan McGrath sending over a series of well struck frees to help his team to a 2-09 to 09 lead at half time.
When McGrath and McCloskey got the first two points of the second half it was clear the home side had a big task on their hand if they were to get anything out of the game they would have to up the tempo. McManus kept his team in touch for a while as he knocked over a series of frees, but the Shamrocks were stretching the gap by the minute and two from substitute Smyth and from right half forward Rian McMullan kept them in control.
Cushendall hit back to back points through Padraig McKillop and Paddy McGill but points for the visitors by McMullan and McGrath wrapped up a ten point win.
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