Date: May 31, 2026

Venue: Pairc MacUilin, Ballycastle

Referee: Lee O’Reilly

Competition: ACHL Division 2

Final Score: Ballycastle II 1-20 | Cushendun 2-16

A breathtaking Antrim Hurling League Division 2 clash at Pairc MacUilin ended with Ballycastle 2nds securing a dramatic one-point victory over a deeply resilient Cushendun side. In a game defined by sharp shooting and late drama, the hosts managed to keep their noses in front just long enough to claim the win Cushendun burst out of the blocks, establishing a 0-03 to 0-00 lead within the first four minutes. The visitors’ early momentum was driven by the accuracy of ‘Loaf’ McNeill, who converted two early frees, sandwiched around a point from play by Donncha Laverty.

Ballycastle settled into the game soon after, heavily relying on the steady free-taking of Criostai McAuley. McAuley struck twice from placed balls before Lorcan Donnelly fired over his first point to level the game at 0-03 apiece by the seventh minute. The sides continued to trade scores in a highly entertaining first quarter until the game’s first major turning point arrived in the 13th minute: Lorcan Donnelly found the back of the net to give Ballycastle their first goal of the match.

Despite the setback, Cushendun rallied strongly. Callam Kilgore was instrumental, popping over three first-half points, while Thomas Scally, Sean McKay, and Donal O’Hara also added their names to the scoresheet. However, scores from Callam Campbell and Feargal McKiernan, alongside McAuley’s relentless accuracy, brought Ballycastle on terms and the teams went in level at the break 1-09 to 0-12.

The second half was a tense, back-and-forth affair. Ballycastle opened the scoring through Donnelly and McAuley, but in the eighth minute, Cushendun struck back with a brilliantly worked goal. A long, surging solo run by Connor McHugh drew the Ballycastle defence out of position; McHugh then slipped a clever pass to the unmarked McNeill, who fired home from close range to put Cushendun right back in the mix.

Ballycastle responded to the pressure with a flurry of points. Feargal McKiernan and Conall Magee chipped in with crucial scores, while Lorcan Donnelly hit a purple patch, rattling off three consecutive points between the 27th and 28th minutes to stretch the home side’s advantage.

Just as the game seemed to be slipping away from Cushendun, they set up a grandstand finish in the 32nd minute. Awarded a 20 metre free, Loaf stepped up and expertly drove the ball low through a crowded goalmouth to grab his second goal of the day, reducing the deficit to a single point with four minutes of injury time remaining.

In a nervy finale, Criostai McAuley held his nerve to tap over another vital free for Ballycastle in the 35th minute. Cushendun’s Donal O’Hara answered back immediately with a point from play, but time ultimately ran out for the visitors. Ballycastle held on for a hard-fought 1-20 to 2-16 victory.

Scorers

Team	Player	First Half	Second Half	Total
Ballycastle II	Criostai McAuley	0-06 (5F)	0-05 (5F)	0-11
	Lorcan Donnelly	1-01	0-03	1-04
	Feargal McKiernan	0-01	0-01	0-02
	Callam Campbell	0-01	–	0-01
	Conall Magee	–	0-01	0-01
Cushendun	Conlaoth ‘Loaf’McNeill	0-04 (4F)	2-00	2-04
	Callam Kilgore	0-03	0-01	0-04
	Donncha Laverty	0-02	–	0-02
	Donal O’Hara	0-01	0-01	0-02
	Thomas Scally	0-01	–	0-01
	Sean McKay	0-01	–	0-01
	Shane McQuillan	–	0-01	0-01
	Connor McHugh	–	0-01

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