Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 2

Tir na nOg 2-19 Cushendun 1-21

An injury time goal by Eamon Og McAllister saw Tir na nOg snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in Sunday’s Intermediate Hurling Championship second round game at Whitehill. The goal, his second in a ten minute spell, put the home side two ahead and though Conor McHugh cut the deficit back to a single point the visitors missed out on a share of the spoils when they missed a last gasp free with the last poc of the game. The win puts the Randalstown side top of their group, level on points with Oisins and Glenarm, but defeat for the Emmets leaves them needing to win their last three games, and depending on other games going their way if they are to have any chance of making the semi-finals.

Cushendun opened brightly and an early Sean McKay point had them ahead inside a minute but Tir na nÓg came back with points from the Duffin brothers Sean and Colm, plus one from McAllister. ‘Loaf’ McNeill pulled one back for the visitors but Randalstown pushed on and were ahead by double scores (0-06 to 0-03) by the end of the opening quarter.

Cushendun settled into the game a bit better during the second quarter and four points in a row from Thomas Scally, Sean McKay and Conor McHugh (2) edged them in front. Sean Duffin brought the home side back on terms a minute later but Cushendun finished the half stronger and went on to lead by 0-10 to 0-08 at the interval.

Conrad McDonnell and Conor McHugh hit the first two points of the second half to push the Emmet’s four ahead and though the Duffin brothers Sean and Colm pulled a couple back for the home side, Cushendun appeared to be firmly in the driving seat when Sean McKay grabbed a goal on 41 minutes to put the visitors six clear.

They still had a five point cushion with ten minutes left to play when Eamon Og McAllister got his first goal to set up a grandstand finish. Two from Sean Duffin in reply to once from Conor McHugh left just a point between them when McAllister struck again from close range to put the Whitehill men two clear. McHugh cut it back to a point in injury time but that was as close as they would get and Tir na  nOg held on for a vital win which keeps them at the top of the table.

TO SEE MORE OF MICKEY MORGAN’S PICS CLICK ON HTE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/XFY2MFjgo3QnJY/?invite=0d323720-36d2-4daf-8d38-253e2a1508a6