Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship – Round 4
Cushendun Emmets 4-14 Randalstown 1-12
Whitehill

Cushendun maintained their perfect record in the Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship with an impressive 11-point victory over Randalstown at Whitehill.

The Emmets have now collected four wins from four and are virtually assured of a semi-final place. However, they must still avoid defeat against Glenarm at a neutral venue in two weeks’ time to secure direct passage to the last four. A Glenarm victory would see the Feystown men overtake them, although Cushendun are already guaranteed at least a quarter-final play-off.

Harry Kilgore opened the scoring for Cushendun after two minutes before Randalstown’s Tiarnan Bonnes replied from a free. Kilgore restored the visitors’ advantage, with Loaf McNeill, Shane McQuillan and Fiontan McQuillan adding further points as the Emmets moved 0-6 to 0-2 ahead.

Sean Duffin kept Randalstown in contention from placed balls, but Cushendun struck for their opening goal after 19 minutes. Fiontan McQuillan’s initial shot was saved, but Loaf McNeill reacted quickest to turn the rebound into the net.

Duffin added three more frees before the interval, but Cushendun landed another major blow on the half-hour mark. Fiontan McQuillan raced onto a through ball and fired past the advancing goalkeeper to leave the Emmets 2-8 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.

McQuillan struck again inside the opening minute of the second half, finding the net after another good save from the Randalstown goalkeeper.

The home side responded positively. Duffin converted two early frees before Eamon Óg McAllister produced a fine finish in the fourth minute, driving the ball low into the bottom corner to reduce the gap to 3-8 to 1-7.

Cushendun quickly steadied themselves. Harry Kilgore sent over his third point before Conor McHugh’s long-range effort caught the goalkeeper off guard and dropped over the bar.

Paddy McGill then effectively settled the contest when he grabbed Cushendun’s fourth goal in the 11th minute, stretching their advantage to 4-10 to 1-7.

Duffin continued to punish infringements from frees and Sean McKinley also found the target for Randalstown, but the home side could not get close enough to seriously threaten the Emmets’ lead.

Loaf McNeill, Shane McQuillan and Sean McKay completed Cushendun’s scoring as the visitors safely closed out their fourth consecutive championship victory.

Cushendun now face Glenarm in a decisive final group fixture, knowing a win or draw will secure a semi-final place, while Randalstown’s championship campaign ended in defeat despite Duffin’s ten-point contribution.

Cushendun scorers: Fiontan McQuillan 2-3 (0-2 frees), Loaf McNeill 1-2 (0-1 free), Paddy McGill 1-0, Harry Kilgore 0-3, Shane McQuillan 0-2, Conor McHugh 0-2, Callum Kilgore 0-1, Sean McKay 0-1.

Randalstown scorers: Eamon Óg McAllister 1-0, Sean Duffin 0-10 (frees), Tiarnan Bonnes 0-1 (free), Sean McKinley 0-1.