Senior Hurling League – Division One
Cushendall 3-11 Dunloy 0-11
Sunday 3 May
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Cushendall
Goals were the difference between these two north Antrim giants as Cushendall recorded their fourth league win of the season. Majors from Joseph McLaughlin in either half and another from Ed McQuillan were the foundations for Cushendall to control this contest against Dunloy.
In a low scoring affair, both sides were guilty of overplaying with the home side proving to be more clinical when it mattered. Dunloy will look at their profligacy in front of the target when they review this game. A serious number of wides and efforts dropping short while the delivery into their forwards lacked any real precision for long periods. A lot of that was down to the work rate and intensity of the Ruairi Og’s however who were on top in the middle third, dictating the game and kept the visitors at arm’s length.
Dunloy couldn’t match the Ruairi’s ball retention and ability to break lines at speed. Despite a slow start, once they clicked into gear, Cushendall were defensively on top and always threatening at the other end of the pitch. The home side never scored in the opening 14 minutes with the Cuchullains settling well and there was just a point between the sides at half way mark but the second half belonged to the Ruairi’s.
While Dunloy settled more quickly into the game than Cushendall, they didn’t make the most of it. They recorded three points before Fred McCurry opened the scoring for Cushendall, those coming from Ciaran Elliott, Chrissy McMahon and a ’65 from Nicky McKeague.
Dunloy would go 12 minutes without registering another score however with Charlie McAuley adding a point before the opening goal of the game in the 18th minute. Ed McQuilland with the break before playing a brilliant pass finding the run of Joseph McLaughlin on his left. ‘Pep’ still had word to do with a scrambling Dunloy defence but he finished superbly.
The remainder of the half was fairly even with Eamon Smyth, Aodhan McGarry and McKeague (free) finding the target for Dunloy while a brace of white flags from Neil McManus (one free) left the half time score 1-4 to 0-6 in Cushendall’s favour.
Cushendall started the second half superbly and had their second goal three minutes after the restart. McQuillan and Joseph McLaughlin combining once again before Pep fired the sliotar beyond Ryan Elliott in the Dunloy goals.
A brace of points from McManus (frees) and Oisin Woodhouse got the score board ticking for Cushendall while Paudie McGilligan (two) and McKeague (’65) points left five between the sides going into the final 10 minutes.
The third Cushendall goal put the game beyond Dunloy’s reach and while McQuillan finished superbly, it owed much to the indecision in the Cuchullains defence. McQuillan reacted fastest to the loose ball and made no mistake. Points followed from McManus (’65) and Woodhouse to open a 10 point lead for the Ruairi’s by the 57th minute.
Dunloy laid siege on the Cushendall goal with a series of high balls into the Cushendall defence but the Ruairi’s dealt with everything that came their way. Points followed from McMahon and McKeague (’65) either side of a point from substitute Joseph McNaughton in the time that remained as Cushendall were well worth their margin of victory at the end of the hour.
Cushendall’s next match will be next Friday night when they travel to face their neighbours, Glenariffe while Dunloy will travel to Rossa Park on the same night.
TEAMS
CUSHENDALL: Conor McAllister; Conor McCann, Martin Burke, Francis McCurry; Scott Walsh, Stephen Walsh, Austin Birt; Callagh Mooney, Charlie McAuley; Ed McQuillan, Joseph McLaughlin, Neil McManus; Oisin Woodhouse, Thomas McLaughlin, Fiontan Bradley
Subs: Liam Gillan for S Walsh (52); Joseph McNaughton for T McLaughlin (53)
Scorers: J McLaughlin 2-00; N McManus 0-5 (3fs, 1’65); O Woodhouse 0-3; E McQuillan 1-00; F McCurry 0-1; C McAuley 0-1; J McNaughton 0-1
DUNLOY: Ryan Elliott; Aaron Crawford, Ryan McGarry, Oran Quinn; Eamon Smyth, Eoin McFerran, Aodhan McGarry; Jack Martin, Paudie McGilligan; Nigel Elliott, Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Ciaran Elliott, Barry Scott, Chrissy McMahon
Subs: Paul Shiels for J Martin (HT); Oisin McCallin for B Scott (HT); Francis McMullan for T McFerran (57)
Scorers: N McKeague 0-4 (3’65s, 1f); C McMahon 0-2; P McGilligan 0-2; E Smyth 0-1; A McGarry 0-1; C Elliott 0-1
Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)
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