Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

May the best team win

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Final

Shamrocks Loughgiel v Ruairi Og Cushendall

By Colm Thompson

As Neil McManus crashed his fourth goal to the back of the Fr Healy Park net on the first Sunday in September the Shamrocks knew the writing was on the wall. Final score Cushendall 4-22 Loughgiel 0-19. The Loughgiel players shook hands and trudged off the pitch, understandably they looked dejected. Following unconvincing group stage victories against St. Enda’s and Ballycastle and the loss to Cushendall it would have taken a brave man to suggest Loughgiel would qualify for the county final routing both St. John’s and five in a row chasing Dunloy along the way. And yet here we are. The manner in which Loughgiel disposed of Dunloy in the semi-final sent shockwaves throughout Ulster hurling. The tremors weren’t just felt in Cushendall, I am sure those in Slaughtneil and The Ards Peninsula sat up and took notice as well. This wasn’t an underdog winning a game with a late goal, this was a confident, dominant performance from The Shamrocks. An eleven point win doesn’t tell the full story, in truth Loughgiel’s margin of victory could and probably should have been more having missed a number of scorable frees. This young Loughgiel team had just made a statement.  It had been a long time since I’d heard the chant “Shamrocks, Shamrocks, Shamrocks” but leaving Ballycastle it was ringing in my ears, the place was rocking…Shamrocking.

   A day earlier I had watched Cushendall beat Ballycastle in terrible conditions. The Town had made things awkward in the opening half but as the game wore on The Ruairis pulled clear for victory. Job done. There is no doubt in my mind that Cushendall have improved since running Dunloy so close in last year’s championship final. The Dall’s ability to get goals has been very apparent throughout this year’s championship campaign averaging over five per game. The likes of Ronan McAteer, Joseph McLaughlin and Ed McQuillan have taken some of the scoring burden off Neil McManus and our forwards look a much more cohesive unit. The Burke brothers, Paddy and Martin marshal a mean defence with half backs Scott Walsh and Eoghan Campbell also capable of getting up the field and taking points. Conor McAlister is also back between the sticks for Cushendall and his distribution and ball striking is key to the Dall game plan.

   Loughgiel’s renaissance owes much to the performances of Paul Boyle who has picked up man of the match awards in his last two games. His ability to take scores from all angles is a major weapon in Loughgiel’s armour. James McNaughton and Dan McCloskey also bring lightening pace to the equation and both are capable of ghosting in for goals. Tiernan Coyle and Damon McMullan are experienced defenders and they have been well supported Enda Og McGarry. However perhaps the greatest demonstration of the rejuvenation has been the recent performances of Declan McCloskey. He was second best to Neil McManus six weeks ago but he has come roaring back and was magnificent in the semi final against Dunloy.

   My daughter and I are Newcastle United fans (it’s a long story) and we were lucky enough to get tickets for The Champion’s League game with PSG. The following morning getting the Easyjet home the person who sat down beside us was none other than Loughgiel manager Hugh McCann! Just as he took his seat the pilot announced a half hour delay until take off. Seeing my chance I struck up a conversation. The usual small talk hoping to get a wee bit of information but like any good poker player Hugh kept his cards close to his chest.

   I genuinely can’t predict this game. Loughgiel’s semi final performance has torn the form book to shreds. I think you know what you get with Cushendall, they have been the model of consistency throughout this year’s campaign which is very unlike Cushendall, in fact it is much more like Loughgiel. The Shamrocks on the other hand have struggled in the group stages, have almost been written off as contenders and then peaked for the knockout stages with a scintillating performance, very unlike Loughgiel and traditionally the way Cushendall do business. The more experienced players are with Cushendall but the youthful exuberance is with Loughgiel. The critical question is which Loughgiel will turn up? The team from the group stages and I’d be confident of a Dall victory, the team from two weeks ago and I’d be very worried.

May the best team win.

by thesaffrongael

Greater hunger could swing it Sarsfield’s way

ANDERSONSTOWN SC IHC Final

Patrick Sarsfield’s v Kickham’s Creggan

Dunsilly Saturday 5.00pm

With Tir na nOg leading by a point and seemingly on their way to this year’s Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling final and Sarsfield’s pushing for an equaliser, Sean Duffin body checked Caolan McKernan on the sideline and 45 yards from goal with referee Ciaran McCloskey blowing for a free.

The large crowd at Dunsilly held their collective breath as Niall McKenna stepped up to take the pressure free. Convert it and the game would go to extra time. Miss and it would be Tir na nOg who would advance to the decider.

McKenna is no stranger to pressure and held his nerve to fire the resulting free between the uprights, much to the approval of the Sarsfield’s supporters in the large crowd and the rest is history.

Anthony McGarrigle fired past Kevin Sheerin, 30 seconds into extra time and Gary Lennon added a point to give the Stewartstown Road side a lead that they never looked again like losing.

Eamon Og McAllister pulled one back for the Randalstown side but the momentum was very much with Sarsfield’s as Kevin McKernan pointed at the other end to restore their four point advantage.

The Belfast side were now winning a lot of dirty ball and were more measured in their attacks and Niall McKenna pointed a free and added another one from play to move them six ahead.

Tir na nOg were still fighting hard but the momentum was very much with their opponents and another point from the influential McKenna had Sarsfields seven in front at the short whistle.

The Whitehill side kept going right to the end but there would be no way back as the Sarsfield’s defence stood strong and a couple of pointed Sean Duffin frees in response to points from substitute Nicholas O’ Mullan and man of the match, Niall McKenna brought matters to a close.

The next day, 20 miles down the road at Glenravel it was Kickham’s Creggan’s county player, Conor McCann who guided his side to victory in the other semi-final with a man of the match display against a fancied Emmet’s Cushendun at Fr Maginn Park.

McCann, who missed all of last season through injury only returned to action a few weeks ago, but he showed just how vital he is to his team as he scored 1-10 of their 3-11 total, four of those points coming in the last eight minutes to pull his team clear of danger.

This win certainly made quite a few sit up and take notice. The Kickham’s had endured an injury ravished season and finished bottom of division 2 with only one win from 13 starts and had recorded only one win from 13 starts.

Conor McCann in action against Cushendun’s Conor McHugh during the semi-final

They lost to Sarsfield’s by a goal in Creggan on the opening day of the group stages of the championship but the return to fitness of Conor McCann and several of the other walking wounded has brought about a dramatic change in fortunes and form.

They recovered from the Sarsfields defeat to record an impressive 3-16 to 1-13 win over Oisin Glenariff in Waterfoot and followed that up with a win over St. Paul’s in Belfast and a home win over Con Magee’s Glenravel to qualify for the semi-final.

That impressive win against last year’s beaten finalists Emmet’s Cushendun sets them up with another meeting with Sarsfield’s and an opportunity to avenge that group 2 defeat earlier in the year.

Sarsfield’s suffered a surprise defeat to St. Paul’s on day two at the Bear Pit but recovered to defeat Con Magee’s at Fr. Maginn Park, setting up a winner takes all meeting with Glenariff in the final round 2 game at the Bear Pit.

A Kevin McKernan goal from the penalty spot in the 59th minute turned this bruising Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2 encounter very much in favour of Sarsfield’s as they overcame the challenge of Oisin, Glenariffe to qualify for a semi-final meeting with Cushendun.

Five minutes previous an Aaron Cosgrove point had moved the visitors three ahead and it looked like the Waterfoot side were on their way to the semis, but it was Sarsfield’s who would finish the stronger.

McKernan’s penalty conversion saw Sarsfield’s run out 2-15 to 1-16 winners to set up that semi-final meeting with Tir na nOg which they won after extra time and another meeting with Creggan on Saturday evening in Dunsilly in the decider.

Both sides are laced with experienced players with the McKernan clan, Gerard, Caolan, Kevin, Daniel and Donal all starting in the semi-final while Jack Daniels, Mark McCavanagh, Enda McCartan, Gary Lennon and Niall McKenna led the Sarsfield’s challenge.

Niall McKenna in action during the semi-fnal win over Tir na nOg

Conor McCann is the man who can swing this one in favour of the Kickham’s and the former county captain is likely to come in for some close attention but Creggan are not a one man team.

His brother Thomas, a former county player himself, Kevin Rice, Aidan McKeown, the Maguires, Aidan and Sam, Ruairi McCann and Jake McAteer are just some of the survivors from Creggan’s last championship final appearance against Carey Faughs in 2021.

The Kickham’s lost that one to a strong Carey Faughs side and were beaten by St. Gall’s in the final back in 2018.

Saturday evenings decider may well come down to whether Conor McCann for Creggan or Niall McKenna for Sarsfields performs to their optimum but both sides have other match winners within their ranks.

In the end it will come down to the side that wants it most and Sarsfield’s certainly displayed that hunger in bagful’s against Tir na nOg and that hunger might just get them over the line over an improving Creggan.

Creggan’s Kevin Rice in action during his team’s win over Cushendun in Saturday’s IHC semi-final in Glenravel. Pic by John McIlwaine
by thesaffrongael

McKernans to the fore as Sarsfields bridge 43 year gap

A look back at Sarsfields last Intermediate triumph in 2017

 

Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Patrick Sarsfields 0-16 Carey Faughs 1-7

0- Sarsfields v Carey 12

Kevin McKernan punches air after sending over a Sarsfields point. Pic by John McIlwaine

By Brendan McTaggart

43 years.  A long time in any man’s books and more than a lifetime for many of those in attendance at Armoy on Saturday afternoon but by 4:20pm they were made to wait no more.  Sarsfields, county champions.  1973 was the last time the Paddies tasted success at the Intermediate level before going on and taking senior honours the following year and on Saturday evening they broke their duck.  Six points separated the Paddies and Carey after a tense battle played in horrible conditions in Armoy. To be honest the score line flattered the Faughs as Sarsfields were dominant, in the second half in particular, but a series of wides and missed opportunities meant that the Faughs were always in with a shout.

Just one point separated the sides with 15 minutes to go, largely down to the profligacy of the Sarsfileds attack but the McKernan brothers, Kevin and Daniel stepped up the tempo when it was most needed.  The duo had been a thorn in the side of Carey for the majority of the match but they, along with Niall McKenna and Darragh McGuinness were immense in the closing stages as the Paddies turned the screw.  Carey fought hard throughout the hour and once again, James ‘Rocket’ Black was a shining light for the men from Ballyvoy.  Rocket was played in a number of positions throughout the hour and played a main roll in a lot that was good in the Carey men.  James McCouaig was superb in defence while Cathal ‘Doog’ McAuley was always dangerous on the edge of the Paddies square.

The Faugh’s were reduced to 14 men with nine minutes remaining, their excellent full-back Sean McBride getting the line for a second yellow card but the writing was already on the wall at that stage for Carey.

With Donal McKernan unable to start the final with a leg injury, Sarsfields gave a Eoghan Rodgers a place in the starting 15.  Rodgers lined out in the corner forward berth but was Rockets shadow throughout the game, anywhere the influential Carey man went, Rodgers wasn’t too far behind.

With the weather worsening at the throw in, it looked like the heavy underfoot conditions would suit the Faughs and in the early exchanges that appeared to be the case as the boys from Ballyvoy got off to the dream start.  The match was only 90 seconds old when the Faughs scored the only goal of the game.  Sarsfields ‘keeper David Ward failing to clear a ’65 from Black that hung in the wind, McAuley pulling the lose sliotar to the back of the net.  The start they would have hoped for and the start that many neutrals would have been keen to see.  Despite Carey playing in a league above the Paddies in 2017, Sarsfields started the match as strong favourites.  Game on.

Daniel McKernan showed his pedigree when he opened the Paddies account with the next attack of the game but Carey’s dream start almost changed to a fairy-tale for the men from Ballyvoy when they were awarded a penalty in the 4th minute.  Again, it was McAuley who was causing the Sarsfileds defence problems.  The Carey full forward collected the sliotar before being bundled to the floor inside the square.  Match referee Colum Cunning awarded the Faughs a penalty which McAuley took himself, electing to drive the sliotar over the bar, much to the relief of the Sarsfields faithful, a decision that baffled most of the Faughs followers.

It was a reprieve for Sarsfields, in hindsight maybe going for goal with less pressure and in the circumstances was better option for Carey and the Paddies took full advantage.  They scored four unanswered points thanks to efforts from McKenna, Darragh McGuinness and two Kevin McKernan frees to take the lead and while Black replied for the Faugh’s, Sarsfields were well on top, scoring another trio of scores to lead by three in the 22nd minute and banish any memory of their nightmare start.  McKenna, Kevin McKernan and Niall McAlea raising the white flags for their side.  McAuley and Kevin McKernan traded frees in the closing stages but the Sarsfields midfielder should have put daylight between the sides in first half injury time.  Through on goal, Steven McGinn produced a superb save to deny the Paddies and while McKernan was also first to the rebound, his grounds stroke somehow managed to spin wide with the goal at his mercy.

The Faugh’s made a bright start to the second half with McAuley landing two more frees to take his tally to 1-4 for the match to leave the minimum between the sides and while Sarsfields always looked dangerous in attack, they were struggling to find their range.

The Paddies had goal chances, twice they were denied with referee Cunning calling a square ball on Gary Lennon on both occasions while the Sarsfields full forward brought the best out of McGinn in the 40th minute but a superb score from McKenna after a strong run was all they had to show for their efforts in the opening exchanges of the second half.

 

A long range point from half back Jack McBride brought Carey to within touching distance once more but Sarsfields found another gear when it mattered most.  Five unanswered points in as many minutes from the 46th minute put them firmly in control, Kevin McKernan with his fifth and sixth points of the final with Daniel McKernan (twice) and substitute Donal McKernan helping to open a six point gap with ten minutes remaining.

The Carey challenge hit a major road block when full back Sean McBride received his second yellow card soon after and while the Faughs never slackened in their pursuit of glory, Sarsfields proved to be a step too far.  McAuley and McKenna exchanging frees in the closing stages to leave six points between the sides at the full time whistle.

It’s another final defeat for the Faughs who have been knocking hard on the door for the last few years, it seems it’s only a matter of time before they make the breakthrough while the Paddies go on to represent Antrim in the Ulster championship and will be hoping that Saturday’s silverware will be added to when their football counterparts take on St Pat’s of Lisburn in the Junior football decider next Saturday.

Sarsfields: David Ward; Peter Corr; James Cunningham; Jack Daniels; Michael Callaghan; Caolan Mervyn; Caillin Caldwell; Kevin McKernan; Darragh McGuinness; Daniel McKernan; Niall McKenna; Niall McAlea; James McKernan; Gary Lennon; Eoghan Rodgers

Subs: Donal McKernan for M Callaghan (35 mins)

Scorers: Kevin McKernan 0-6 (2 frees); Niall McKenna 0-4 (1 free); Danial McKernan 0-3; Darragh McGuinness 0-1; Niall McAlea 0-1; Donal McKernan 0-1

Carey: Steven McGinn; Eoin Hill; Sean McBride; Daniel Hill; Michael McVeigh; James McCouaig; John McBride; Kevin Murphy; James Black; Shea Hunter; Nat Hunter; Martin Hunter; Peadar McVeigh; Cathal McAuley; Sean McLoughlin

Subs: Fiachra McVeigh for K Murphy (HT); Gerard McBride for S McLoughlin (50 mins); Daniel McBride for J McBride (inj)

Scorers: Cathal McAuley 1-5 (0-1 pen, 4 frees); James Black 0-1 (1 free); John McBride 0-1

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

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by thesaffrongael

Little to choose between Armoy and the Biddies

Hurling takes centre stage in Antrim this weekend with finals in Junior, Intermediate and Senior with all three grades promising to produce entertaining and competitive deciders and all likely to attract bumper crowds.

The action gets underway on Saturday when close rivals, St. Brigid’s, Cloughmills and Glen Rovers, Armoy meet in the Junior final, hosted by Oisins Glenariff in Waterfoot.

Dunsilly provides the venue for the ANDERSONSTOWN SC Intermediate decider between Kickham’s Creggan and Patrick Sarsfield’s and once again we have all the ingredients for a cracker.

It’s on to Corrigan on Sunday where Loughgiel Shamrock’s, who produced something of a shock in their semi-final win over Dunloy take on a Cushendall side who recorded a resounding win over them in the Group stages.

CASEMENT SC JHC Final

1.00pm Waterfoot

Glen Rovers Armoy v St. Brigid’s Cloughmills

These two will need no introduction as Glen Rovers and St. Brigid’s have served up many tight and entertaining contests in recent years. The sides met in the Junior Feis final earlier in the year with St. Brigid’s winning that one with something to spare.

A master class of point taking by St. Brigid’s Eoin Dobbin inspired the Cloughmills’ club to Feis glory when they overcame the challenge of neighbours, Glen Rovers Armoy in the final in Dunloy.

The talented number 13 finished the game with 0-12 to his name and displayed unerring accuracy on a day when both sides missed a bucket full of scoring opportunities.

Only two of Dobbin’s total came from play but his free taking was right out of the top drawer as he struck at least three from 70 meters or more on a night when little went right for the men from ‘The Glen’.

Armoy did gain a measure of revenge when the sides met in Armoy in the league with the Glen Rovers coming out tops in that one and it will have given them confidence going into Saturday’s final in Glenariff.

From the outset of this year’s Junior Hurling Championship the smart money would have been on these two to make the decider.

Both dropped down from Intermediate where they had competed for some time and both played their hurling in division 2 for quite a number of years and they finished second and third in division 3 this year in the league behind winners Cuchulainn Hurling Club, Armagh.

The Armagh side dropped only three points on their way to the title with Cloughmill’s earning a draw in Armagh city after losing to the same side on the opening day of the league in Cloughmills while Glen Rovers inflicted Cuchulainn’s only defeat in Armoy back on the 2nd July

Glen Rovers began their JHC campaign with a win away to Davitt’s at Davitt’s Park by 0-20 to 2-11back in August and went on to beat Rasharkin by the narrowest of Margins at Dreen in their second group outing.

The ‘Rovers’ went on to top their group with a win over Lamh Dhearg, 3-12 to 2-12 in Armoy before recording a fairly comfortable semi-final win over Gort na Mona at the same venue.

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills, like Saturday’s opponents, went through the group stages unbeaten and began their campaign with a 1-19 to 0-13 victory over Gort na Mona at Enright Park.

They followed that win with victory over All Saints in Cloughmills with six points separating them from the Ballymena side and finished their group campaign with a facile victory over the namesakes, St. Brigid’s Belfast.

Like Glen Rovers, St. Brigid’s earned a home venue for their semi-final against Lamh Dhearg by virtue of topping their group and ran out convincing 1-20 to 0-9 winners in the end to set up a meeting with Glen Rovers in the decider.

John ‘Rocky’ Dillon missed the semi-final against Gort na Mona with an ankle injury and the Armoy management will be hoping the former county full-back has recovered to take his place in the final.

Late goals from Ciaran McKenna and Eoin Kinney sealed victory and a place in the Casement Social Club JHC final for Glen Rovers when they held off a spirited challenge from Gort na Mona in Armoy.

Conor Devlin will line out in goals for Armoy and has been a reliable custodian for many years while Liam Dillon, Shane and Arthur Devlin, Thomas Burns and Hugh O’Kane will all be hoping to get the nod in the starting defence. PJ McBride accompanied McKenna at mid-field last day out and Turlach McBride was a major contributor from frees with Trevor Linton continuing to put in impressive performances in attack.

St. Brigid’s have their own Mr Reliable in goals in Chris McKiernan while Sean McKendry, Geoffery Og Laverty and Johnny Duffin all impressed in defence against Gort na Mona.

Kevin O’Boyle moved to mid-field for that one from his usual defensive birth while Eoin Dobbin, Mickey Devlin and Liam Kearns gave the ‘Biddies’ plenty of options in attack.

In a tight game this could become the battle of the free takers with Eoin Dobbin in impressive form from the placed ball for the Cloughmills side and Turlach McBride showing similar accuracy for Glen Rovers in their respective semi-finals.

I don’t expect there to be much between these evenly balanced sides come 2.10pm on Saturday and it could be all down to who settles quickest on the day but I’m going to stick my neck out and predict a Cloughmills win but it could go either way.

by thesaffrongael

Cushendall and Loughiel will meet in a final for the tenth time

Antrim Senior Hurling Final preview – Previous final meetings

Sunday’s meeting of Loughgiel and Cushendall will be the tenth time these modern day rivals have met in a final, but their first time to meet in a decider in Corrigan Park. The Shamrocks, who lead the overall roll of honour with 20 titles, have been winning championships for over 100 years, their first coming in 1920, while Cushendall’s breakthrough came 61 years later in 1981.

1985

The first final meeting between the two sides came in 1985 at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel when the Ruairis collected the second of their 14 titles by beating the Shamrocks by 4-13 to 1-12, the late James McNaughton lifting the cup as captain.

2005

It was another twenty years until the two clashed again in a final, this time at Casement Park when the Ruairis won by the narrowest of margins 2-10 to 0-15 in a thrilling game in 2005. Loughgiel were in a run of final defeats of six in a row, this being the third of them. Sean Delargy and Ryan McNaughton shared the honour of lifting the Volunteer Cup.

2006

2006 was more of the same as the rivalry grew stronger, the Ruairis coming from seven down at half time to win by seven on a scoreline of 2-14 to 2-07. Aidan Delargy enlisted the help current St Enda’s manager Mickey McCambridge to help him hoist the famous silverware aloft on the steps of Casement Park.

2008

Two years later they were back again as the Ruairis made it four final wins in a row over the Shamrocks, at Casement Park. In a game with no goals the ‘Dall had a convincing 0-15 to 0-6 win, John Carson and his son Conor both saw action in a special day. A.D. managing to lift the Volunteer Cup on his own this time

2010

The tide had to turn, and it did two years later, back at Casement when Loughgiel came out on top against their rivals in a final for the first time, winning convincingly by 1-19 to 0-11. Eddie McCloskey got the only goal of the game while the honour of lifting the Volunteer Cup went to a man who had suffered so much during their six final defeats, Johnny Campbell

Loughgiel captain Johnny Campbell lifts the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Cup after his teams’s 1-9 to 0-11 victory over Cushendall in the 2010 final at Casement Park.

2011

In 2011 both sides were back again in the decider and once again the Shamrocks came out on top, Liam Watson getting the only goal of the game from a penalty to help his team to a 1-14 to 0-14 win. Johnny Campbell, who had missed a part of the season through injury brought vice-captain DD Quinn up to the podium to collect the cup, where they were joined by Bernie McKinley who had captained the senior Camogs to victory over Portglenone the previous day. DD joined Johnny again later in the campaign in Croke Park when the two of them held the Tommy Moore Cup aloft after their All Ireland final win over Coolderry.

2013

The Shamrocks great run continued when they beat Dunloy in the final in 2012, but Cushendall were back to face the Shamrocks again in 2013 this time in Ballycastle as, Casement Park had closed its gates.  In one of their best ever displays in a final the Shamrocks completed a famous 4-in-a-row as they won convincingly by 3-14 to 2-6, Neilly McGarry having the honour of lifting the cup this time.

Antrim Senior Hurling Championship LoughgielÕs celebrate their win over Cushendall in the Antrim final in Ballycastle, a victory which secured the Shamrocks fourth county title on the trot.
Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Loughgiel captain Neilly McGarry holds the Volunteer Cup after his team’s win over Cushendall in the Antrim final in Ballycastle, a victory which secured the Shamrocks fourth county title on the trot.

2016

That was the end of the Loughgiel run as Cushendall took the next two titles, beating St Gall’s in 2014 in Pairc MacUilin, and Ballycastle in 2015 in Dunloy , but when they went through to the final in 2016 Loughgiel against stood in their way as they bid for another 3-in-a-row. Pairc MacUilin in Ballycastle was again the venue and once again Shamrocks came out on top, winning by 1-15 to 1-12. For the third time in his great career DD was called upon to help lift the trophy, as he and Neilly McGarry hoisted the silverware.

Antrim Senior Hurling Championship LoughgielÕs celebrate their win over Cushendall in the Antrim final in Ballycastle, a victory which secured the Shamrocks fourth county title on the trot.

2018

2017 saw a young Dunloy team make the breakthrough by beating Cushendall in the final and it looked like they would dominate for many years to come, but it 2018 it was the Ruairis and the Shamrocks who once again shared the stage on the biggest day of the hurling year in the county. Dunloy did of course to go on to dominate, winning five in six years but in the last final that the Cuchullains didn’t figure in it was once again the Dall and Shamrocks. By this stage there were level with four final wins against each other but Cushendall edged back ahead in the personal dual between the two as they won by 2-12 to 0-15. Paddy Burke was the man to lift the Volunteer Cup. On a sad note it was the last time Wee John McKillop helped a Cushendall captain lift the trophy. John was there for all fourteen wins up to now, but if the Ruairis were to triumph on Sunday it will seem strange collecting that special trophy without him.  

Cushendall celebrate their win over Loughgiel in the 2018 Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship final at Pairc MacUílin, Ballycastle.