ACHL Division One

Cushendall 0-13 Dunloy 1-18

Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Cushendall

Dunloy retained their Division One crown by easing past Cushendall on Sunday afternoon.  Eight points separated the sides with Dunloy’s Deaglan Smith putting in a superb display with 1-5 to his name, all coming from open play.

The Ruairi’s were missing a few names from their starting 15 but still managed to cause the Cuchullains problems in the first half.  Deaglan Smith’s early major the difference between the sides at the interval with Dunloy ahead by the minimum.  Aidan McNaughton and Scott Walsh showing huge work rate in the first half with Ryan McCambridge leading the charge in attack.  The heavens opened after the restart and the conditions deteriorated dramatically but Dunloy tightened their grip on the game.  Chances and scores were hard to come by but the Cuchullains did enough with Paul Shiels, Shane Dooey and Conor McKinley impressing.

Eoin Laverty top scored for the home side, Frein finishing the match with six points – five of those from placed ball.  McCambridge with three points from play with Martin and Paddy Burke along with Niall McCormick hurling well in defence.

The Cuchullains had too much experience all over the pitch however with their better use of the sliotar telling.  Set up to make use of the pace in their forwards, Dunloy utilised the space to open up the Ruairi’s with just three points of the 1-18 accumulated coming from placed ball.

In a slow start, the first score of the match was registered in the fourth minute.  Aidan McNaughton firing over from distance.  Coby Cunning replied for the Cuchullains but the home side were doing all the early running.  Further scores from Walsh, Eunan McKillop and Laverty had the Ruairi’s three clear after the opening 10 minutes.

Dunloy weren’t firing in those opening exchanges but the move to create the only goal of the game was a glimpse of what they’re capable of.  Ronan Molloy collecting the sliotar before playing an inch perfect pass through the heart of the Cushendall defence to Deaglan Smith who was making a cross-field run.  Smith’s momentum allowed him to round Eoin Gillan and he despatched the sliotar to the back of the Cushendall net.  A quality goal to kick the Cuchullains into life.  A further brace of white flags from Smith and Chrissy Brogan gave the visitors a two point lead midway through the first half.

Cushendall responded with McCambridge and Laverty (free) to get back on terms but Paul Shiels split the uprights from distance to edge the Cuchullains in front once again.  Walsh and Smith swapped white flags before Cushendall created their first goal chance of the match.  Eunan McKillop collecting a long poc out from Eoin Gillan but his effort was well save by Gabriel McTaggart between the sticks for the Cuchullains.  Laverty converted the resulting ’65 to bring the sides level with seven minutes of the half remaining.  Neither side really took a stranglehold of the time that remained but Dunloy edged the scoring with Cunning (free), Shiels and Kevin Molloy firing over in response to a brace from McCambridge, taking his tally to three points for the half.

Half time: Cushendall 0-10 Dunloy 1-8

Cushendall’s work rate in rucks and ability to win dirty ball helped them to win the midfield exchanges for long periods of the first half.  It was a different ball game in the second half however as Dunloy took charge after the restart. 

With the rain pouring bordering something biblical, the conditions didn’t allow pretty hurling but the Cuchullains upped their work rate and began to open a gap between the sides on the scoreboard.  Smith and Cunning (’65) fired over in the opening two minutes before Cunning and Keelan Molloy pointed in quick succession in the 38th minute to open a five point lead.

Cushendall introduced Paddy McGill in an attempt to breathe fresh life and legs into their attack but they had to wait to the 14th minute of the second half for their opening score.  Laverty with his fourth of the game but Dunloy continued to dominate.  Molloy and Smith finding the target before Shane Dooey split the posts from distance to leave seven points between the sides going into the last ten minutes.

The Ruairi’s responded with two frees from Laverty to reduce the deficit to five once again but Dunloy finished strongly and with further scores from Cunning (free), Brogan and Molloy they added further gloss to the score line by the final whistle.

With these two sides playing in the opening round of the championship round robin in just three weeks time at Pearse Park, it was always going to be interesting to see how they lined out.  It’s fair to say there will be changes with neither showing a full hand and there’s no doubting it will be a contest with a bit more spice but it’s the Cuchullains who take the honours for now.  An 11thwin in succession ensures they retain the league crown they won last year as they continue their good form in 2019.

TEAMS

Cushendall: Eoin Gillan; Liam Gillan, Martin Burke, Stephen Walsh; Francis McCurry, Paddy Burke, Niall McCormick; Aidan McNaughton, Scott Walsh; Dominic Delargy, Eunan McKillop, Ryan McCambridge; Eoin Laverty, Alex Delargy, Ed McQuillan.

Subs: Paddy McGill for A McNaughton (36); Ronan McAteer for D Delargy (39).

Scorers: Eoin Laverty 0-6 (4 f’s, 1 ’65); Ryan McCambridge 0-3; Scott Walsh 0-2; Aidan McNaughton 0-1; Eunan McKillop 0-1.

Dunloy: Gabriel McTaggart; Phelim Duffin, Conor McKinley, Conor Kinsella; Kevin McKeague, Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy; Paul Shiels, Shane Dooey; Chrissy Brogan, Keelan Molloy, Ronan Molloy; Nicky McKeague, Conal Cunning, Deaglan Smith.

Subs: Chrissy McMahon for R Molloy (HT); Aaron Crawford for D Smith (49); James McKeague for S Dooey (inj).

Scorers: Deaglan Smith 1-5; Conal Cunning 0-4 (2 f’s, 1 ’65); Keelan Molloy 0-3; Chrissy Brogan 0-2; Paul Shiels 0-2; Kevin Molloy 0-1; Shane Dooey 0-1.

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)