Fixture: Cushendun vs. Loughgiel (2nd)

Date: 21st June 2026

ACHL Division 2 – Venue: CushLig an Airgid (Cushendun)

Cushendun 4-19 | Loughgiel 1-15

Referee: Fintan McCotter

Cushendun ran out convincing winners in this Antrim Hurling League Division 2 clash at CushLig an Airgid, defeating Loughgiel’s second string on a final scoreline of 4-19 to 1-15. A devastating three-goal blitz midway through the first half laid the foundations for the home side’s victory, and despite a spirited second-half revival from Loughgiel led by Tiago McGarry, a late scoring surge from Conor McHugh sealed an emphatic win for Cushendun.

The match opened as a point-for-point exchange, with Tiago McGarry opening the scoring for Loughgiel with a free in the 4th minute, quickly answered by Cushendun’s Thomas Scally. McGarry and Cushendun’s “Loaf” traded frees shortly after, keeping the sides deadlocked.

The game turned decisively in a golden two-minute window for the hosts. In the 13th minute, Connor Bannon rattled the net for the game’s opening goal. Barely sixty seconds later, Callum Kilgore struck a second major, followed immediately by a white flag from Harry Kilgore to put Cushendun 2-04 to 0-02 ahead.

Loughgiel stopped the bleeding temporarily through points from Conall McCloskey and Donal McKinley, but Cushendun’s appetite for goals wasn’t sated. In the 23rd minute, Harry Kilgore raised a third green flag for the Emmets. Late points from Conor McHugh and Mathew McCartin ensured Cushendun went into the break with a commanding ten-point cushion.

Cushendun 3-08 | Loughgiel 0-07

Loughgiel emerged for the second period with renewed determination. Tiago McGarry hit the ground running with two early frees, complimented by a Donal McKinley score to narrow the gap. Cushendun responded through Bannon and “Loaf”, but Loughgiel enjoyed their best spell of the match between the 12th and 18th minutes, hitting four unanswered points via McGarry (2), McKinley, and Patrick Laverty to cut the deficit.

The Shamrocks’ comeback gained serious traction in the 26th minute when Conor O’Mullan blasted home a goal, bringing the score to 1-15.

However, any hopes of a dramatic comeback were ruthlessly extinguished by Cushendun in the final five minutes. Conor McHugh took absolute control of the closing stages, hitting two quickfire points before Andrew Breslin put the game beyond doubt with Cushendun’s fourth goal in the 28th minute. McHugh finished the match in style, tacking on three further points in the dying minutes to seal a comprehensive 13-point victory for the home team.

• Final Score: Cushendun 4-19 | Loughgiel 1-15

Key Scorers

• Cushendun: Conor McHugh (0-06), Harry Kilgore (1-03), Connor Bannon (1-01), Callam Kilgore (1-01), “Loaf” (0-04 frees), Andrew Breslin (1-00).
• Loughgiel: Tiago McGarry (0-09 frees), Conor O’Mullan (1-01), Donal McKinley (0-03).

TO SEE MORE OF MICKEY’ PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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