Cushendall needed a barnstorming second half to claim the victory over a spirited and well organised Ballycastle side. Mc Quillans exploded out of the traps and were three points to the good inside the opening two minutes because of a 21 yard free which Ciaran Clarke hammered to the back of the Dall net. Eoin Laverty and Ciaran Clarke traded frees as Cushendall struggled in the early stages. Eoghan Campbell played a long ball in to Christy Mc Naughton who converted from his corner forward berth. Shane Jennings answered back for The Town but this was to be his final contribution and unfortunately for Ballycastle he had to be withdrawn with what looked like a nasty shoulder injury. Cushendall were beginning to settle to the task and in the eleventh minute Neil Mc Manus broke out of defence and fed Conor Carson who sent over a booming point from the middle of the park. Clarke and Laverty again traded frees before Kevin Barry Mc Shane won the ball way out on the left wing and fired over an excellent point. Laverty was unerring from placed balls and he made no mistake from 50 yards after Donal Mc Naughton had been fouled. Mc Naughton himself got on the score sheet when he evaded his man and converted a neat point. As the half drew to a close Ballycastle upped the ante and fired over four of the last five scores, Ciaran Clarke with three frees and Ciaran Kelly with a point from play. In the same period Cushendall could only muster an Eoin Laverty free to leave the scores at half time; McQuillans 1-8 Ruairi Og 0-7.

   It was nip and tuck in the early stages of the second half with two pointed frees from Ciaran Clarke and two from Eoin Laverty. It was looking ominous for Cushendall at this stage as they had struggled to break down a resolute Ballycastle defence. But Paddy Mc Gill got the ball rolling with a point from the right wing and then things clicked into place. A high ball in the Castle danger area was brilliantly caught by Eoin Laverty who rounded his man and sent an unstoppable shot to the top corner of the Town net to turn the game on its head. Clarke converted a free for Ballycastle but Cushendall now had the bit between their teeth, Laverty converted another free and Christy Mc Naughton got his second of the game after being set up by Eoghan Campbell. Ciaran Kelly kept Ballycastle in the hunt with a point but David Kearney beat his man to a loose ball around the middle of the park. His first touch was excellent and after a lung bursting solo run he converted an amazing score for the best point of the game. Clarke steadied the Castle ship with a converted free but again Cushendall surged forward. Karl Mc Keegan, Eoin Laverty from a free, Donal Mc Naughton and Sean Delargy hit four points in a row to put Ruairi Og in the driving seat. Kevin Barry Mc Shane pointed for Ballycastle to leave the gap at four points. Matty Donnelly had been moved forward and was awarded a dubious looking penalty. Ciaran Clarke stood over the ball but his effort sailed over the ball to leave three points between the teams with time drawing to a close. Ballycastle desperately needed scores but it was Christy Mc Naughton at the other end who got them as he claimed the final two points of the game and the win for Cushendall. Final score Ruairi Og 1-20 Mc Quillans 1-15.

 

How they played: Cushendall were flat in the first half and Ballycastle took advantage but in the second half some of Ruairi Og’s hurling was impressive. To turn a four point deflect at half time into a five point win against Ballycastle is no mean feat. Arron Graffin, Paddy Burke and David Kearney defended well throughout the game and further forward Eoin Laverty was always dangerous. However my man of the match was Christy Mc Naughton, yes he hit a few wides in the first half but when the game was in the melting pot in the last fifteen minutes Christy didn’t shirk his responsibility and landed three priceless points which were vital in Cushendall’s win.

 

Team; 1. E Gillan 2. R Mc Cambridge 3. M Burke 4. A Graffin 5. N Mc Manus 6. P Burke 7. D Kearney (0-1) 8. A Mc Naughton 9. E Campbell 10. P Mc Gill(0-1) 11. C Carson (0-1) 12. K Mc Keegan(0-1) 13. E Laverty (1-9, 0-9f) 14. D Mc Naughton(0-2) 15. C Mc Naughton(0-4)

 

Subs used: S Delargy (0-1)

Report by Colum Thompson