McKeever Hotels Intermediate Hurling Final
Cushendun 3-25 Carey 3-21 (aet)
Saturday 7 November
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Mac Uílín, Ballycastle
Cushendun bridged a 19 year gap on Saturday afternoon as they claimed the Antrim Intermediate hurling title for the fourth time in their history. It took extra time to separate the sides as Carey pushed the Emmet’s to their limits and beyond in a breath taking final.
On a day where heroes were made, Cushendun had plenty. Conor McHugh in a performance for the ages while Calum and Harry Kigore were outstanding. Yet, it was Sean McKay who took the player of the match honours. In truth, that accolade could have gone to any number of five players. The Emmet’s produced their best performance of the championship for when it mattered most.
Carey played their part in a game of hurling that had everyone hooked. At different times it looked like the Faughs were going to pull away with Fiachra McVeigh scoring a first half hat trick, Shea Hunter putting on an exhibition and Patrick Gillan unmarkable throughout. The Faughs were dealt blows throughout the game with James Black’s game cut short in first half injury time while they were into their third goal keeper before the final whistle – Steven McGinn and Charlie McAuley having to come off with injuries while Christopher Butler had to step into the breach.
It was the Emmet’s who produced the goods in extra time however and their greater scoring threat throughout their team gave them an edge.
It was a helter skelter start to the final and it never let off until the half time whistle. Both sides found the back of the net in the opening four minutes with Pearse McKeegan raising the green flag for the Emmet’s after a scramble in the goal mouth while Fiachra McVeigh intercepted a pass before hammering to the back of John V Morgan’s goal.
Cushendun were wasteful in front of the target in that opening quarter while Carey pulled away and held a three point lead after 10 minutes. Hunter and Patrick Gillan prominent for the Faughs.
Fiachra McVeigh’s second major came in the 16th minute to put five between the sides and it was a throw back to the hurling golden years of first time hurling. Callum Kane pulling first time to send the sliotar into the danger area where McVeigh double to the back of the net.
Cushendun hit back with their second major three minutes later. Fiontan McQuillan scrambling the sliotar over the line after a brilliant run through the heart of the Carey defence by the marauding Calum Kilgore.
The Kilgore brothers added points to bring the sides level by the 23rd minute only for Carey and McVeigh to score their third goal. Conlith McKinley sending the sliotar long where Fiachra McVeigh got something on the sliotar and the power on the strike and bounce off the astro turf was enough for the sliotar to hit the back of the net.
Cushendun found an answer once again however with Harry Kilgore scoring their third major. Sean McKay’s effort for a point dropped short and the Carey defence failed to clear their lines, Harry Kilgore reacted fastest to find the back of the net in the 28th minute.
The sides exchanged scores with Caolan McCaughan firing over for Carey while Calum Kilgore and McHugh responded for the Emmet’s to leave the sides tied 3-8 apiece at the interval.
The second half started with the same, frenetic pace with Patrick Butler and Patrick Gillan firing over either side of Sean McKay’s first point of the final.
Sean McKay and McHugh both split the uprights to restore parity to the sides by the 42nd minute and while the scoring slowed, the excitement levels never dipped. Both sides putting their bodies on the line and doing whatever it took for their team. It was an incredible display of passion from both sides and neither took a backward step.
Cushendun looked like they might have the edge in the final quarter of the hour with Sean McKay’s influence becoming more prevalent. He was beginning to dominate the middle third with McHugh and the Emmet’s took a three point lead going into the closing stages.
It was Carey’s time to hit back however with Shea Hunter sending the sliotar over the crossbar twice before Patrick Gillan’s 10th white flag of the contest tied the scores with the last puck of the hour.
With the game going into extra time, both sides looked dead on their feet. This was a gruelling contest and both sides were pushed to extreme physical limits, but as the game restarted, it looked like the Emmet’s had the upperhand.
McHugh split the posts either side of a point from Fiachra McVeigh while a brace of points either side of a white flag from Patrick Gillan left two between the sides at the half way mark of extra time.
That two point lead was gone inside two minutes of the restart. A brace of frees from Patrick Gillan restored parity but the Faugh’s wouldn’t register another score in the eight minutes of time that remained.
McHugh landed a brace of frees while Harry Kilgore took his personal tally to 1-4 for the final and ensure the Emmet’s were celebrating at the final whistle.
This was an enthralling contest and truly was an epic final. Both sides played their part in the showpiece final for the intermediate grade and gave everything they had for their club and parish. Cushendun celebrate and have their eyes set on the Ulster semi final with Keady next weekend.
TEAMS
Cushendun Starting XV: John V Morgan; Mark McSparran, Archie McSparran, Pearse McKeegan; Jack McKay, Donal O’Hara, Shane McQuillan; Callum Kilgore, Thomas Scally; Harry Kilgore, Conor McHugh, Paddy Morgan; Fiontan McQuillan, Sean McKay, Matthew McCartin
Subs: C McHugh 0-9 (2f, 2’65); H Kilgore 1-4; C Kilgore 0-6; F McQuillan 1-1; Sean McKay 0-3; P McKeegan 1-00; T Scally 0-1; Dpnncha Laverty 0-1
Carey Starting XV: Steven McGinn; Zach McCaughan, Sean McBride, Oisin Healy; Peadar McVeigh, John McBride, Conlith McKinley; Cathair Brogan, James Black; Callum Kane, Caolan McCaughan, Shea Hunter; Fiachra McVeigh, Patrick Butler, Patrick Gillan
Scorers: P Gillan 0-12 (7f); F McVeigh 3-1; S Hunter 0-4; C McKinley 0-1; C Kane 0-1; C McCaughan 0-1; P Butler 0-1
Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)
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