Cushendun captain Donal O’Hara goes high to make a spectacular catch in the final seconds of Saturday’s win over Lavey in Armoy, Pic by Sean Trowlen
Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship – Quarter Final
Cushendun 1-15 Lavey 0-13
Saturday 31 October
Brendan McTaggart reports from Armoy
Cushendun produced a heroic performance on Saturday afternoon as they progressed to the last four of the Ulster intermediate championship at Lavey’s expense. Despite being down to 13 men for the majority of the last quarter, the Emmet’s dug in and were full value for their margin of victory.
It was a day for leaders in Armoy and Cushendun were full of them. Archie and Mark McSparran were excellent in the full back line while Donal O’Hara led the Emmet’s superbly His performance in that last quarter when his side were under pressure was immense while the midfield and half forward line were full of commitment and work rate. Harry Kilgore was another one to shine, the right half forward a constant thorn in the Lavey men’s side.
Cushendun were rocked with the loss of Conor Bannon and the influential Connlaoth McNeill but their intensity levels never dipped. Conor McHugh, Sean McKay and Thomas Scally were excellent as the Emmet’s showed an inner desire on the day to produce their best performance of the championship to date.
The Derry champions never got going on the day but much of their performance was down to the Cushendun men. Aidy Toner and Darragh Young were their top performers in a defence that were well organised. Their forward unit didn’t click however and a number of handling errors and missed goal chances hurt their challenge.
The Emmet’s started the contest on the front foot and had three points on the board inside the opening five minutes. Harry Kilgore raising the white flag either side of a brilliant score from Sean McKay.
Lavey opened their account with a score from Fintan Bradley but the Cushendun three point advantage was restored thanks to a superb score from Connlaoth McNeill. ‘Loaf’ dissecting the uprights from wide on the right and with next to no angle to work with, the Cushendun man showed he was up for the match.
Lavey looked like they had settled into their game when they landed the next three points, Sedgae Melaugh, Raymond Duggan and Rian Collins (free) tying the sides after 16 minutes.
It was a helter-skelter start to the game with both hitting uncharacteristic wides. Cushendun hit a brace of points from Calum Kilgore and McNeill (free) before Lavey had the first goal chance of the game. Connor Melaugh testing the reflexes of John Morgan in the Cushendun goals while Sedgae Melaugh’s follow up went harmlessly wide.
McNeill landed his second free of the half before Bannon was red carded in the 24th minute. Referee Peter Owen’s adjudging that the Cushendun man made contact with Ryan Farren’s helmet with his hurl and the Emmet’s were reduced to 14 men.
Bradley landed a free from distance while midfielder Ryan McGarvey had a chance for a major only for Morgan to save again while McNeill (free) and Fiontan McQuillan put four between the sides. McQuillan’s point a classic example of full forward play as he broke the sliotar into his own path before holding off the challenge of Brendan Laverty to split the upright for the last score of the half.
With the wind at their back for the second half, Cushendun were well placed but a brace of free from Bradley saw Lavey cut their lead to two points after five minutes.
A break from midfield by Ryan McGarvey had created another chance with his pass to the right finding Raymond Duggan. Duggan couldn’t gather cleanly though with the goal at his mercy and Cushendun made the most of that reprieve.
Harry Kilgore had a glimpse of goal but his shot fizzed over the bar before Sean McKay scored the only goal of the game in the 37th minute. Conor McHugh finding McKay with the perfect hand pass as he ran through the middle and he made no mistake. A brilliant finish that was matched by the vision of McHugh to find his team mate.
Jack McKay split the posts to put seven between the sides before Lavey had another glimpse of John Morgan’s goal. Rian Collin’s haring through the middle and shooting from distance, Morgan stopped the sliotar with a brilliant diving save.
Cushendun were awarded a penalty with the next attack, McHugh being hauled down by John McGurk when through on goal. McNeill took the resulting penalty but Dan Mulholland produced a brilliant save to deny Loaf.
Rian Collins and Connor Melaugh split the posts either side of McNeill’s third free of the match to leave six between the sides going into the final quarter.
Lavey were thrown a lifeline when McNeill saw red for what referee Peter Owens saw as a dangerous shoulder tackle on Tiarnan Meluagh in the 47th minute. Cushendun were immense in the final quarter however. Defensively, they gave no goal chances while they scrambled superbly.
They stretched their lead to eight with McHugh taking over the free taking responsibilities while Collins (free) and Sedgae Melaugh gave Lavey a glimmer of hope.
Lavey needed a goal however and the Cushendun defence never looked like coughing up that opportunity. McHugh (free) and substitute Sam Dodds exchanged scores before John McGurk had the last score of the contest in injury time.
A display full of guts, determination, intensity and plenty of skills. The Emmet’s answered any questions that may have lingered over them this season. They roll on to the semi final and will face either Newry Shamrocks or Keady in two weeks time. In the meantime, the small matter of the Antrim final against Carey next Saturday.
TEAMS
Cushendun Starting XV: John V Morgan; Mark McSparran, Archie McSparran, Paddy Morgan; Jack McKay, Donal O’Hara, Fiontan McQuillan; Calum Kilgore, Thomas Scally; Harry Kilgore, Conor McHugh, Connlaoth McNeill; Conor Bannon, Sean McKay, Matthew McCartin
Subs: Shane McQuillan for C Kilgore (44); Donncha Laverty for F McQuillan (49); Pearse McKeegan for M McSparran (52)
Scorers: C McNeill 0-5 (4f); C McHugh 0-3 (3f); S McKay 1-1; H Kilgore 0-3; C Kilgore 0-1; F McQuillan 0-1; J McKay 0-1
Lavey Starting XV: Dan Mulholland; Darragh Young, Brendan Laverty, John McGurk; Ryan Farren, Aidy Toner, Tiarnan Melaugh; Ryan McGarvey, Niall Duggan; Raymond Duggan, Fintan Bradley, Sedgae Melaugh; Rian Collins, Connor Melaugh, Aimon Duffin
Subs: Lorcan McDonnell for R Duggan (38); Conor McGurk for R Farren (44); Ruaidri Melaugh for A Duffin (44); Eoin Scullion for D Young (49); Sam Dodds for N Duggan (54)
Scorers: F Bradley 0-4 (3f); R Collins 0-3 (3f); S Melaugh 0-2; C Melaugh 0-1; R Duggan 0-1; J McGurk 0-1; S Dodds 0-1
Referee: Peter Owens (Down)
TO SEE MORE OF CURLY’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THIS LINK
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TO SEE BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME, CLICK ON THIS LINK
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“THE CAPTAINS CATCH”
A different view of Donal O’Hara’s catch at the death… The Cushendun captain rose highest despite Fintan Bradley looking to double on the sliotar in mid-air.