Above – Loughgiel captain Liam McGarry receives the Darragh Cup from Marie and Mallachy Darragh, parents of the late John Darragh, in front of the mural of the of the former Ruairi Og player.
Darragh Cup Final
Loughgiel 2-16 Dunloy 1-18
Friday 12 June
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Cushendall
When Dunloy substitute John Ferguson split the uprights in the fourth minute of injury time, it looked like the Cuchullains had made the mother of all comebacks. Having led by six points with a little over five minutes to go, Loughgiel were well placed to take the Darragh Cup back to Fr Healy Park. Dunloy clawed their way back before Liam McGarry fired the winning score as the clock ticked into the 66th minute. The Loughgiel captain the first to celebrate as the sliotar sailed over to mark his second point of the game.
It was an epic ending to a super game of hurling that maybe deserved another 20 minutes. The Shamrocks were that little bit more clinical in front of the posts throughout the 60 minutes with Joe Deery’s free taking imperious. Their goals set up the win, both coming in the second half with Caolan McCollum and Cian Higgins with the defining scores while Logan McConville put a monumental shift in the middle of the park.
Jay McAlonan was top of the scoring charts for the Cuchullains, four of his seven points coming from open play and coming from a range of angles. Despite being heavily marked, McAlonan was the main threat for Dunloy. The introduction of John Ferguson and Euan Molloy at half time helped breathe some impetus into the Dunloy attack while Anthony Og Cochrane’s goal was a wonder-strike and gave the Cuchullains a massive lift at the death.
Loughgiel weren’t to be denied however and despite passing up the opportunity to score on a couple of occasions, Liam McGarry’s score was the decider at the end of a super game of hurling.
Despite Loughgiel opening the scoring through Cian Higgins, Dunloy made a bright start to this final by scoring four unanswered points in as many minutes to lead by three with just six minutes on the clock – PJ Molloy (2), McAlonan (’65) and James McGarry with the scores.
Loughgiel finally settled into the final though and for the next ten minutes, outscored Dunloy six points to one. Four white flags coming from Deery along with points from McCollum and Liam McGarry, Cochrane with the sole response for the Cuchullains.
The workrate and intensity brought by the Shamrocks was certainly unsettling the Cuchullains but they hit back to score another three points unanswered with McAlonan (two) and Ollie McClements edging them ahead eight points to seven after 24 minutes.
That was the last score of the half from Dunloy however as Loughgiel finished the half strongly. Three frees from Deery and a point from Dylan O’Boyle gave the Shamocks a three point lead by the short whistle. It could have been even better for Loughgiel but Deery’s goal bound effort was superbly saved by Damian McMahon in the Dunloy goals.
Half time came at a good time for Dunloy who needed the break to reorganise. They looked to match the intensity that Loughgiel were bringing and made changes with McClements dropping into the half back line to try and curtail the Loughgiel attacking threat.
They opened the scoring after the restart with McAlonan’s second free of the night but Loughgiel found the back of the net with the next attack. Liam McGarry’s long free dropping into the danger area where the Shamrock’s recycled, Conor McCann finding McCollum and he made no mistake.
The Cuchullains hit back with a trio of points from substitute Euan Molloy, McAlonan and a lovely score from Eunan Curry to leave two between the sides but with the helter skelter nature of the contest, no side had any sort of momentum long enough to take a stranglehold of the contest.
A brace of Deery points ensured Loughgiel kept that goal between the sides and Dunloy at arms length but the Cuchulainn’s kept coming. Euan and PJ Molloy splitting the posts either side of a brilliant pointed side line from McConville for Loughgiel as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Dunloy looked to catch the Loughgiel defence off guard from a 21 yard free, McAlonan firing low only for the sliotar to be kept out of the net and with that reprieve, the Shamrock’s hammered a telling blow at the other end of the pitch. Barely 60 seconds later they had the sliotar in the back of the Dunloy net with Higgins getting the major that put the Shamorcks in control with a little over seven minutes remaining.
Dunloy kept coming though and after McAlonan and Deery (free) exchanged scores, the Cuchullains found another gear. Eanna McGuckian first splitting the posts before Cochrane’s major left two between the sides. Eunan Curry sending a brilliant side line cut into the edge of the six yard box where Cochrane doubled on the sliotar to give Cody McGarry little chance of stopping it.
The Loughgiel defence were living on the edge with Dunloy spurning a couple of goal chanced moments later before McAlonan and Ferguson tied the sides in the fourth minute of injury time.
All eyes were on Mark O’Neill when Loughgiel and McGarry had one more moment of magic. Twice they saw chances come and go to retake the lead but captain McGarry was the right man in the right place to fire over the bar and ensure the Shamrocks were celebrating at the full time whistle.
This was a brilliant contest between two evenly matched sides. The Shamrock’s did enough, just, but Dunloy will rue their missed chances and wide count throughout the game. Given how this contest transpired, they could meet again later in the summer in the championship. If that happens, it will take some living up to be as good as this contest. Some serious skill, nerve and intensity on show with the Shamrocks taking the honours.
TEAMS
Dunloy Starting XV: Damian McMahon; Ronan Black, Joseph Doherty, Jamie McMullan; Seamus McMullan, Eunan Curry, Jack McQuillan; Aaron Doherty, Ollie McClements; Daire Elliott, Eanna McGuckian, James McGarry; PJ Molloy, Jay McAlonan, Anthony Og Cochrane
- Subs: Euan Molloy for S McMullan (HT), John Ferguson for D Elliott (HT), Odhran Boyle for PJ Molloy (60)
- Scorers: J McAlonan 0-7 (2fs, 1’65), A Og Cochrane 1-1, PJ Molloy 0-3, E Molloy 0-2, E Curry 0-1, O McClements 0-1, E McGuckian 0-1, J McGarry 0-1, J Ferguson 0-1
Loughgiel Starting XV: Cody McGarry; JJ McGarry, Eunan Johnston, Aaron Gillan; Liam Smyth, Domhnall McKay, Corin McCullough; Logan McConville, Joe McFadden; Joe Deery, Liam McGarry, Conor McCann; Caolan McCollum, Dylan O’Boyle, Liam Higgins
- Subs: Cahir McErlean for C McCann (40), Joe Casey for D O’Boyle (41), Lorcan Murtagh for C McCullagh (45), Cahir McCloskey for JJ McGarry (53)
- Scorers: J Deery 0-10 (7fs, 1’65), C McCollum 1-1, C Higgins 1-1, L McGarry 0-2, L McConville 0-1, D O’Boyle 0-1
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
To see more of Brendan’s photos from the final, follow the link below….
https://myalbum.com/album/EMtJBDJ7yTuMSG/?invite=9dd918db-cd30-491f-992b-78473c839474
TO SEE MORE OF CURLY’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THIS LINK
https://myalbum.com/album/P4sYJved9uQQHA/?invite=33139a45-a255-44c7-8cc2-72002c8fba07