Antrim Minor Hurling Final
Ruairi Og Cushendall 1-20 Glenariffe-Glenravel
A virtuosi display by full forward Fiontan Bradley steered Ruairi Og Cushendall to the Antrim Minor title as they beat the holders Glenariffe-Glenravel by six points in perfect conditions at Cushendun on Saturday afternoon. Bradley was unstoppable, scoring an incredible 1-14 of his team’s total of 1-20, 0-07 in the first half and 1-07 in the second. Last week the teenager had excelled for the Cushendall seniors in their extra time defeat by St John’s but there was no stopping him this time around, his accuracy from placed balls and from play unerring.
The game itself started slowly, both sets of players apparently struck down by nerves, but not surprisingly it was Bradley who was first to raise a flag, though it took 13 minutes to come. He added another a minute later but Glenariffe-Glenravel came back with two inside a minute through Canice McIntosh and Joe McKay to tie things ups on fifteen minutes. The sides were tied again on 24 minutes when Bradley and Oisin Gillan exchanged points but Cushendall finished the half strong and another Bradley point and one each from substitute Charlie McAlister and corner forward Cahir McCambridge put them 0-07 to 0-04 ahead going in at the break.
Glenariffe-Glenravel made a great start to the second half and after Canice McIntosh sent over from a free they hit the front when Oisin Gillan fired and angled shot from the left of the goals, high into the Cushendall net,
however they didn’t get long to enjoy their lead as Bradley sent over from a free at the other end a minute later to tie things up. Thomas McLaughlin put the Ruairis back in front on 34 minutes, Shane McQuillan pushed it out to two after a little pop-pass from Bradley before the man himself stretched the advantage to three by the 37th minute.
Points from Caden Graham and Canice McIntosh brought Glenariffe-Glenravel back to within two again and for the next fifteen minutes the lead fluctuated between two and four as scores from Bradley (2) and Nicholas McLaughlin were answered by Colla Ward, Oisin Gillan and Canice McIntosh. The score that really settled the game in Cushendall’s favour came down the home stretch, Bradley holding off three defenders as he threw the ball up in the air and batted it home with a stroke reminiscent of a Roger Federer serve.
Three more points followed as they winners stretched their lead to nine, but to their credit Glenariffe-Glenravel kept battling away and Cadhan Graham pulled a goal back in injury time. Cushendall were worthy winners however as they captured the club’s first minor title in twelve years.
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