O’Donavan Rossa 1-11 Ruairi Og Cushendall 2-20

Pics by Sean Trowlen

Ruairí Óg Cushendall secured their place in the Antrim Minor Hurling Championship semi-final with a commanding second-half comeback against O’Donovan Rossa at Rossa Park. In a match officiated by referee Coly Thompson, Cushendall ultimately ran out 2-20 to 2-11 winners after a dominant final 27 minutes.

Cushendall opened the scoring early when Jake Laffan pointed in the second minute. Operating efficiently in attack, full-forward Connlaodh McNaughton was a constant threat, finding the back of the net at the thirteen minute mark to push his side ahead. Supported by two points from Donnacha Laverty, Cushendall built a commanding 1-7 to 0-5 lead with just five minutes remaining in the first half.

However, Rossa orchestrated a massive momentum shift before the whistle. They hit a purple patch to register an unanswered 1-4, starting with a free from Adam McGahey. Oisin Boyle, Conor Og Marley, and Connla McKay added quick-fire points, before Cillian Carabine struck for a crucial goal on the stroke of half-time. This late surge sent Rossa into the break with a two-point advantage, leading 1-09 to 1-07.

Rossa maintained their momentum in the opening minutes of the second half, with centre-forward Oisin Boyle converting two frees in the first three minutes of the new half to extend their tally to 1-11.

From that point on, Cushendall completely took over, remarkably holding Rossa scoreless for the final 27 minutes of the game. The turning point coming on 35 minutes when Connlaodh McNaughton struck his second goal of the afternoon. McNaughton was in clinical form, adding five more points (including two frees and a ’65’) throughout the half.

Cushendall’s supporting cast also found their rhythm, with Conor McCann, Cahir McCambridge, Jake Laffan, and Shane McQuillan all splitting the posts to put the game out of reach. Despite a valiant first-half effort from Rossa, Cushendall’s relentless second-half performance ensured a comfortable 2-20 to 2-11 victory.

O’Donovan Rossa: 1. Aidan Holbrook, 2. Tiernan Mcdonnell, 3. Oisin McGarrity, 4. Fionntan McKenna, 5. Ronan McNally, 6. Dylan Donnelly, 7. Ryan Mooney, 8. Cormac O’Hare, 9. Iarlaith Rogan, 10. Connla McKay, 11. Oisin Boyle, 12. Cillian Carabine, 13. Adam McGahey, 14. Conor Og Marley, 15. Gerard Delaney.

Ruairí Óg Cushendall: 1. Shane Coulter, 2. Cormac Burke, 3. Charlie McAlister, 4. Sean McAuley, 5. Rian Laverty, 6. Conor McCann, 7. Calum Magee, 8. Oliver Mooney, 9. Shane McQuillan, 10. Donnacha Laverty, 11. Callum Quinn, 12. Eoin-Lorcan Bradley, 13. Cahir McCambridge, 14. Connlaodh McNaughton, 15. Jake Laffan, Subs – 16. Charlie McNaughton, 17. Aidan McCormick, 18. Conall Og Trainor, 19. Odhran Totten, 20. Jayden Kinney McNaughton, 21. Tiernan McKeegan, 22. Nicholas McLaughlin, 23. Aaron Dylan McNaughton, 24. Cabhan McKeegan; Unnumbered: Harry Blaney, Brian McNeill, Paddy Morgan, Patrick O’Kane.

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