Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship – Quarter Final

Cushendun v Lavey

Date: 31 October 2026

Venue: Armoy – Throw In: 1:30pm

Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Cushendun’s game with Lavey in the Ulster Intermediate Championship in Armoy

Cushendun’s journey into Ulster begins in Armoy on Saturday afternoon as they face Derry champions Lavey in the quarter final.

Despite their Antrim final not being played as yet, the Robert Emmet’s berth in the provincial championship was earned with theirs and Carey’s win in the semi finals.  The Faugh’s won the Ulster Intermediate championship in 2023 in a nail biting final against Swatragh and because of the ‘three year’ ruling, they are unable to compete in the championship until 2027.

You still with me?  I felt like that needed cleared up before we go any further.  The three year was once five years – just another piece of useless information for you all.

So, this game.  Cushendun will face a resurgent Lavey side who have been building for some time.  They won three Derry minor championships and lost narrowly to a hugely talented Glenariffe side in the Ulster minor final two years ago.  From that side, we could easily see as many as six in their starting 15 on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday represents a quandary for Rory McQuillan’s men.  They will have their eyes set on the Antrim final the following weekend and if anything, this match has come as a distraction and not a very welcome one at that.

Winning in Ulster would be fantastic in normal circumstances, but winning Antrim means promotion to the senior championship in 2027.  That is the ultimate goal and having this game before their biggest match of 2026 is far from ideal.  Do Cushendun go full tilt and risk injuries ahead of that game?  Will that game even be played next weekend if Cushendun were to win on Saturday?  Should they get over the line against Lavey, it would mean they have three massive championship games in 14 days.  To get physically ready for that is one thing, to get prepared psychologically and be ready to produce on each occasion will be another story altogether.

But, that’s looking a couple of steps further than they perhaps should be for now.  Lavey will provide a massive challenge and if Cushendun aren’t ready for this task then the Derry champions will make them pay. 

In their semi final win over Creggan, Cushendun had to dig deep.  Eight points down at half time left them with a mountain to climb but thanks to the brilliance of Donal O’Hara at six, Connlaoth McNeill from frees and Thomas Scally in midfield, that half time deficit was gone after barely 15 minutes of that second half. 

But, it will be important for Cushendun to take learnings from that game as well as enjoy the euphoria that only a championship win can bring.  They went scoreless for close to 20 minutes in the first half while Creggan had chances at the death to at least send the game to extra time.  Kickham’s found space in the Cushendun defence and if Lavey do the same, they will capitalise more clinically than Creggan did.

In the Derry championship, Lavey bounced back from an initial opening defeat to Kevin Lynch’s before a morale boosting 20 point win over Eoghan Rua seemed to be the catalyst for their season.  A narrow semi final win over a much fancied Swatragh side came before a win over Banagher – a repeat of the Derry junior final of 2025, earned the Erin’s Own side the crown.

So who are the star turns for the Gulladuff side?  Up front, the emergence of Rian Collins has been a major reason for the upturn in their fortunes.  In his first full year as a senior, Collins is a major threat and will need some looking after from the Cushendun back six.

Lavey are far from a one man team however with Tiarnan and Conor Melaugh prominent.  Captain Fintan Bradley leads from the front and is an ace marksman from placed ball while the industry of Niall Duggan in midfield has provided Lavey with dynamism in the middle of the park.

Ady Toner is a teak tough defender whose speed and agility will make him a forwards nightmare while Ryan McGarvey in midfield will also play a key role.

Having watched them recently in a challenge game against Lisbellaw, Lavey will provide stern opposition for the Emmet’s.  Lavey have steadily improved as the championship has progressed under the tutelage of Johnny McGarvey and the two Dunloy natives, Conor McKinley and Christopher Kearns.

They come into Saturday’s match looking for more progress after reaching the Ulster junior final in 2025.  Succumbing to Burt in the final of that with a depleted side.

Putting the whole Antrim championship to one side, playing in Ulster is always a special occasion.  Playing against the Derry champions in recent times has been a bigger hurdle than in the past.  The emergence of Slaughtneil as a provincial powerhouse has risen the rest of the clubs within the Oak leaf county.  As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats.  The Emmet’s frame of mind could depend on how this plays out.  If it’s a ‘distraction’ then Lavey will prevail, but if it’s another leg in a historic journey, we could be in for a cracker.