36 teams from all over Antrim participated in the Guinness Cube Hurling event at Cushendall.
Held over a two day period stiff competition between all the teams saw Loughguile crowned the winners and won 1000 euros for their club, from event sponsor Guinness.
It all started on Friday night with playing under floodlights adding to the excitement and novelty of the event. Ruairi Og team 'Skin & Bones' and Loughgiel team 'The No Hopers' advanced to the knock out stage to be held on Saturday afternoon session.
On the Saturday morning and lunchtime sessions another 6 teams progressed to the semifinals, 4 Ruairi Og teams, one from Glenarm and one from Glenariff. There was a short break and then it was no more of the friendly stuff as we had reached the quarter finals and knockout stage, and the teams remembered that they were playing for 1000 euro!
After the quarter and semifinal stage we had our final two teams, Skin & Bones (Brian Kearney, Sean Mc Keegan and Fergus 'skinner' Mc Alister) V The No hopers (DD Quinn, Karl Casey, and Barney Mc Auley). When the dust had settled and Brian’s knees had stopped bleeding we had a very tense, exciting, tight final.
Despite our boys’ efforts in the final, we had to give way to a younger, fitter, Loughgeil team who won 1-0 and were presented with the Cup and 1000 euros from Guinness at the closing ceremony in the Lurig. Everybody had fun; there were great displays from all ages. It was great to see the likes of Sambo, Big Jackie, Aidan Mc Ateer, Skinner, Martin Mc Clafferty, Sean Mc Keegan, Noddy, Smokie, Junior and Gerry Cosgrove - yes Gerry Cosgrove, all get a run out with the caman in their hands once again.
A big thank you must go to, Guinness, our groundsmen who got the site prepared for the event, the referees (who all played in the tournament - Gerry Cosie, Smokie and Big Jackie), Niall Kearney for being the MC, the Lurig for the refreshments after the final, the visiting teams, our own boys for turning out, all those who turned up to help out with the running and for the supporters who turned up.
A special mention, and thank you, must go to Junior Mc Killop because had he not of played I would have had to, so as another team could field on the Friday night, and that would not have been healthy for myself, or pretty for anyone watching.
Well done to the winning team from Loughgeil, who lifted the Cup in the Lurig Bar to a background of 'airhorns', courtesy of Big Jackie. Hope all the skinned knees heal and we're all looking forward to more fun in the 'Cube'.
Plans are underway so that our Juvenile members get a supervised run out before the really bad weather arrives. More photos can be viewed in the gallery. Martin Magee