A.C.S.H.L Div 1
Wed 6th of August 2014
by Colum Thompson
Cushendall got back to winning ways with an impressive performance against Ballycastle. The Dall started with purpose and registered the first three points of the game from Eoghan Campbell, Aidan Mc Naughton and Neil Mc Manus. Cushendall looked in control at this stage but when Eoin Gillan spilled Kevin Barry Mc Shane’s shot over the goal line it brought Ballycastle back on level terms. The Cushendall response however was instant. Cormac Mc Allister played in Karl Mc Keegan who dissected the uprights from the left wing and Neil Mc Manus converted a free from distance to put Ruairi Og two points to the good. Fergus Donnelly got a point for the Town but it was token resistance. Alex Delargy gathered the ball thirty yards from goal and set off on a run and after leaving two defenders in his wake finished to the corner of the net for a superb goal. Delargy and then Christy Mc Naughton added points to push Cushendall six points ahead. Stephen Mc Afee stopped the rot for Ballycastle with a pointed free but that man Christy Mc Naughton converted a free of his own and another from play before Neil Mc Manus sent over another long range free. Mc Afee converted a free for Ballycastle but they had no answer to Cushendall’s attack. Donal Mc Naughton got in on the act with a nicely converted point from 40 yards. Mc Manus converted another long range free and then came the point of the game. Sean Delargy sent a high ball to Christy Mc Naughton who caught superbly above his man and despite the close attentions of David Donnelly and being way out on the sideline Christy sent over a magnificent score to the delight of the Dall support. Stephen Mc Afee converted a free as the half drew to a close with Cushendall in total control, 1-15 to 1-4.
Eoghan Campbell started the second half with a point from the middle of the park but Cushendall were then delt a blow when centre back Paddy Burke received his second yellow card of the game and was sent off. Neil Mc Manus and Stephen Mc Afee traded points on two occasions as Ballycastle tried to get back into the game. A low ball into the Dall full forward line was gathered by the impressive Christy Mc Naughton who pointed. Mc Afee and KB Mc Shane(0-2) gave Ballycastle hope but they were struggling to break down a stout Dall defence. Aidan Mc Naughton, who had worked hard all day got his second point of the game after a strong solo run. Eoghan Campbell then burst into life and fired over three points in a row to kill the game off completely. Ballycastle never stopped fighting and registered points from Mc Afee and Chrissy Boyle but they were cancelled out by Sean Delargy and Paddy Mc Naughton for Cushendall. The final score of the game went to KB Mc Shane who blasted a consolation goal for the Town but it was Cushendall who took the spoils, 1-25 to 2-11.
Team: 1.
E Gillan 2. R Mc Cambridge 3. M Burke 4. A Graffin 5. N Mc Manus(0-7) 6. P Burke 7.
S Delargy (0-1) 8.
E Campbell (0-5) 9. A Mc Naughton(0-2) 10. C Mc Allister 11. S Mc Afee 12. K Mc Keegan(0-1) 13. A Delargy(1-1) 14. D Mc Naughton(0-1) 15. C Mc Naughton(0-6)