Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship Final
Dunloy 1-19 Cushendall 1-13
Sunday 1 November
Brendan McTaggart reports from Ballycastle
Dunloy bridged a four year gap on Sunday afternoon as they defeated Cushendall to win the Volunteer Cup in Ballycastle, their 17th title in all, which moves them level in second place with Ballycastle in the roll of honour. Six points was the difference on a day where the Cuchullains showed their pedigree in finals.
In a match full of massive moments, it was the Cuchullains who had more of those in their favour – the majority of those in the second half. Ciarán Elliott’s goal in the 16th minute was the game defining score and gave Dunloy an element of control in a high octane contest but there were moments at the opposite end of the pitch with the Cuchullains winning that shaped the contest.
Oran Quinn’s block to deny Fiontan Bradley a certain goal was ridiculously brilliant. The Cushendall man looked certain to find the back of the net only for the Dunloy defender to produce a moment of bravery.
The save from Ryan Elliott at the death to deny Joseph McLaughlin. A penalty was awarded and then overturned for a prior infringement. Strong refereeing from Mark O’Neill and it gave Dunloy the rub of the green that is needed on the big occasion.
Conal Cunning was the tormentor in chief for Dunloy and raised the white flag on 10 occasions. He and Seaan Elliott did the lions share of the scoring for the Cuchullains but this was a game built upon their defence.
Oran Quinn’s block could go down in Dunloy folklore never mind his overall performance while Ryan McGarry, Eoin McFerran and Aaron Crawford all excelled.
Cushendall never seemed to click into gear on the day and after an even opening quarter, struggled to make inroads in the Dunloy defence. Fiontan Bradley always looked dangerous along with Joseph McLaughlin but Dunloy seemed to play with more intensity and a savage hunger that made them first to almost every ball.
That being said, Cushendall have a man that is capable of dragging them from the depths and has done on numerous occasions. Neil McManus bagged their major from a 21 yard free in the 57th minute that reduced the Dunloy lead to four points. One of those moments that went the way of the Ruairi’s but there wasn’t enough of them on the day. To Dunloy’s credit they hit back right away and eased any anxiety their fans may have had as they comfortably closed out the game.
Dunloy had the wind advantage in the first half and could have been out of sight by half time. Ciarán Elliott’s goal came to put some daylight between the sides but the Dunloy forward passed up the chance for goals on another two occasions before the half was out. ‘Cat’ has been a real goal threat for Dunloy throughout 2026 and those misses along with some uncharacteristic, missed chances from frees could have hurt the Dunloy challenge.
Cushendall were excellent in the opening 10 minutes with Bradley firing over on a couple of occasions but only scored one point in almost 20 minutes as Dunloy took control.
Seaan Elliott’s first half performance was one of the main reasons Dunloy had built a lead with four of his five points coming in the opening 30 but ‘Coby’ Cunning was again outstanding also. His point in the 14th minute where he rose highest in a crowd and broke free before firing over was a massive moment in the game.
Five points was far from an unassailable lead and with that wind showing little signs of calming, the opening quarter to the second half was always going to be massive. It was another period of play that the Cuchullains took the game by the scruff of the neck. They outscored Cushendall five points to two, Coby’s frees and points from Keelan Molloy and Seaan Elliott came in response to points from McManus and Joseph McLaughlin to put eight between the sides.
The Ruairi’s fought back and had their first period of sustained pressure on the Dunloy defence at the start of the closing quarter. ‘Pep’ McLaughlin split the uprights for his second from play and sixth overall in the 43rd minute but incredibly, that was to be his last score of the final.
Then came the block. Is it an exaggeration to say it was the winning of the game? I don’t think it is. A goal then and with plenty of time on the clock remaining, it could have been a different story. Quinn put his body on the line to deny Bradley and Dunloy managed to re-establish their eight point lead going into the final 10 minutes.
It was going to take something special for Cushendall to get back into the final and when McManus fired to the back of Ryan Elliott’s net from a 21 yard free, the lead was four and it looked like we were in for a barnstorming finish. We have seen it so many times in the past where the Ruairi’s produce at the death, bringing them back from the brink and it’s that man McManus who is inevitably at the heart of it all.
It never materialised. If anything, this was one comeback too many that even the Ruairi’s couldn’t muster. Points from Coby (free) and substitute Tom McFerran gave Dunloy the perfect response to that McManus goal.
Cushendall had those chances at the death, Ryan Elliott denying Joseph McLaughlin while the penalty awarded for an infringement on Sean McAfee was overturned for someone lifting the sliotar off the ground in the build-up.
Dunloy rode out the late Cushendall storm and celebrated at the final whistle. They move to joined second in the Roll of Honour with Sunday the 17th time they’ve reached the summit in the county.
They go on to face Down champions Portaferry in Armagh in two weeks’ time in what should be another thriller. With Slaughneil lying in wait in the final and the Cuchullain’s Camogs also facing the Down champions in an Ulster semi-final these are special days for Cuchullains club.
TEAMS
Dunloy Starting XV: Ryan Elliott; Oran Quinn, Ryan McGarry, Aaron Crawford; Eamon Smyth, Eoin McFerran, Aodhan McGarry; Nicky McKeague, Seaan Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Conal Cunning, Luke McFerran; Ciarán Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Chrissy McMahon
Subs: Tom McFerran for C McMahon (47); Paul Shiels for E Smyth (52); Barry Scott for C Elliott (60)
Scorers: C Cunning 0-10 (5fs, 1’65); S Elliott 0-5; C Elliott 1-00; L Molloy 0-1; A McGarry 0-1; N McKeague 0-1; T McFerran 0-1
Cushendall Starting XV: Conor McAlister; Conor McCann, Martin Burke, Fred McCurry; Scott Walsh, Austin Birt, Charlie McAuley; Eoghan Campbell, Callagh Mooney; Thomas McLaughlin, Ed McQuillan, Fergus McCambridge; Fiontan Bradley, Neil McManus, Joseph McLaughlin
Subs: Ryan McCambridge for E Campbell (39); Sean McAfee for F McCambridge (44); Joe McNaughton for E McQuillan (54)
Scorers: J McLaughlin 0-6 (3f, 1’65); N McManus 1-2 (1-1f); F Bradley 0-2; T McLaughlin 0-1; C McAuley 0-1; E Campbell 0-1
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
TO SEE MORE OF CURLY’S PICS FROM THE FINAL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
https://myalbum.com/album/3DKirhrMiygMPd/?invite=45006671-1e1d-496c-9a56-4f0e7c9208f7
TO SEE PHILIP’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THIS LINK
https://myalbum.com/album/zgwGXnsmrhbpJ2/?invite=8e6c1aad-d9ff-4619-a112-40773bfd7527