Leadon Timberframe Ulster Minor Hurling Championship Final
Ruairí Óg, Cushendall 3-17 Séan Mac Cumhaill, Bealach Féich (Donegal) 0-4
Sunday 28 December
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Shéamuis Mhic Fhailí, Baile na Scrine
Cushendall cruised to a 22 point win against Séan Mac Cumhaill on Sunday afternoon and claim the Ulster Minor Hurling Tournament Cup at Ballinascreen. It was a dominant display from the young Ruairí Ógs who led from start to finish and amassed all but one of their scores from open play.
Fiontan Bradley fires the ball to the Séan Mac Cumhaill net inside the first minute
Fiontan Bradley and Ryan McAuley got the goals, Bradley with one in either half while early substitute Fintan McKillop claimed the man of the match award from the sponsors (Leadon Timberframe). McKillop was brought on after just four minutes of the final after Brian McNeill failed to shake off an injury picked up in the semi final. He would finish with six white flags and put in a quite brilliant performance for his side.
Conor McCann and Callagh Mooney excelled at the heart of the Ruairí’s defence while McLaughlin brothers Thomas and Nicholas were pulling the strings in midfield.
It was always going to be a massive ask for the Ballybofey side who had performed so well in causing a massive upset last Sunday defeating Ballygalget in the semi final but they found Cushendall in no mood to let lightning strike twice. Daniel Donnelly, Jacob Malone and Pauric Kelly all had good games for Séan Mac Cumhaill but they struggled with a sharp and more cohesive Cushendall side.
Cushendall made a fast start to the final and had the first goal of the game inside the opening 60 seconds. Callagh Mooney sending the sliotar towards Bradley and breaking the delivery into space, the Cushendall full forward drove a ground shot home from close range. Points followed from Connlaodh McNaughton, Nicholas McLaughlin and Alex McCambridge while Bradley added to his goal to leave the Ruairi’s 1-4 to no score ahead after 10 minutes.
Séan Mac Cumhaill played Daniel Donnelly in a deeper role but the delivery into the forwards and ability to take a score from distance meant Cushendall were able to transfer their pressure into points on the board.
Daimhin Byrne opened Séan Mac Cumhaill’s scoring when he intercepted a loose pass before splitting the uprights in the 11th minute. That would be their only score from open play however as the Cushendall defence remained on top throughout.
Cushendall were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute when Bradley was hauled to the ground as he made his way towards goal. Séan Mac Cumhaill claimed Bradley had overcarried but their complaints fell on deaf ears. Nicolas McLaughlin took the resulting penalty but his effort was well saved by Fionn Mac an Ultaigh.
The Ruairi’s continued to find the target from various ranges with Bradley and Mooney firing over along with scores from Thomas McLaughlin, Cahir McCambridge and a brace from Fintan McKillop. A free from Dylan Patton the sole response from the Ballybofey side as Cushendall took a time lead of 1-10 to 0-2 into the half time interval.
Séan Mac Cumhaill started the second half with more intensity and tackles started to increase in ferocity yet ultimately, it started the same way as the first – a Cushendall goal. Collecting the sliotar in the right hand corner, Cahir McCambridge got clear of the tackles along the end line before finding Ryan McAuley. McAuley was under pressure but managed to get enough on the sliotar from close range and beat Mac an Ultaigh in the Séan Mac Cumhaill goals.
A free from Donnelly was responded with Fintan McKillop’s third point of the final before Séan Mac Cumhaill were reduced to 14 men. Substitute Sean Og Hannigan receiving his marching orders for a strike with his hurl on Thomas McLaughlin, giving referee the easiest decision of the final. A tackle borne out of frustration given what had happened before when McLaughlin had superbly robbed him of possession but a clear breaking of the laws.
With the game opening up, Cushendall began to put even further daylight between the sides with Fintan McKillop, Bradley and Shane McQuillan finding their range. Donnelly would split the uprights for his second free with 12 minutes remaining but that was the last score by the Ballybofey men.
The third Cushendall major came in the 55th minute through a piece of individual brilliance. Bradley gathered the sliotar and rounded his man. The Séan Mac Cumhaill closed in and starved him of space but he managed to hammer the sliotar to the back of the net one handed.
Nicholas McLaughlin had the final say with the last score of the final as Cushendall romped home to claim the last silverware of 2025.
The win see’s Cushendall join St John’s and Kevin Lynch’s on three wins each at the Tournament and Antrim joining Derry with winning the competition on 11 occasions.
TEAMS
CUSHENDALL: Shane Coulter; Paddy Morgan, Conor McCann, Brian McNeill; Alex McCambridge, Callagh Mooney, Aodhán Campbell; Thomas McLaughlin, Nicholas McLaughlin; Shane McQuillan, Connlaodh McNaughton, Ryan McAuley; Cahir McCambridge, Fiontan Bradley, Dáire Higgins
Subs: Fintan McKillop for B McNeill (4); Diarmuid McManus for S McQuillan (51); Sean Pol McNaughton for R McAuley (53); Calum Quinn for A Campbell (57)
Scorers: F Bradley 2-3 (1f); F McKillop 0-6; R McAuley 1-00; N McLaughlin 0-2; A McCambridge 0-1; C Mooney 0-1; T McLaughlin 0-1; C McNaughton 0-1; C McCambridge 0-1; S McQuillan 0-1
SÉAN MAC CUMHAILL: Fionn Mac an Ultaigh; Ultán Coyle, Shay Bradley, Adam Byrne; Patrick McElhinney, Oisin Mullen, Lorcan Byrne; Pauric Kelly, Tomás McNulty; Rory Doherty, Daniel Donnelly, Jamie Gallen; Dylan Patton, Jacob Malone, Daimhin Byrne
Subs: Sean Og Hannigan for A Byrne (28); Matthew Dowds for J Gallen (40); Shay McNulty for R Doherty (44); Ultan O Giollagáin for L Byrne (48); Liam Gallen for D Patton (51)
Scorers: D Donnelly 0-2 (2fs); D Patton 0-1 (1f); D Byrne 0-1
Referee: Sean Curran (Derry)
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