A.C.S.H.L Div 1
Ruairi Og V Portaferry
Sunday the 8th of June 2014
Portaferry made the long journey up from The Ards Peninsula to take on Cushendall in the Antrim Senior Hurling League. It was the Down men who were first to strike, aided by a strong breeze Peter Mason converted an early free. Karl Mc Keegan got Cushendall off the mark with a free of his own after seven minutes. A high ball into the Ports danger area was won by Donal Mc Naughton who rounded his man and buried the ball in the net for an excellent goal. Peter Mason struck over a point from play but again Cushendall came forward. First Eoghan Campbell converted after being fed by Neil Mc Manus. Then Conor Carson fired over a point after good interchange play by Karl Mc Keegan and Aidan Mc Naughton. The Dall got their third point in a row when veteran Mc Keegan converted a free which had been won by Cormac Mc Allister. Portaferry were starting to make better use of the wind and they hit the next seven points to move from five points down to two points in front thanks to some excellent point taking from Mason and Eoin Sands. Donal Mc Naughton and then Eoghan Campbell answered back for Cushendall to again tie the game. Eoin Sands then lost his marker and burst through the Dall defence for a goal. As the half drew to a close Peter Mason and Conor Carson exchanged points to leave the score at the short whistle Portaferry 1-10 Cushendall 1-7.
Cushendall started the second half well with points from Alex Delargy, Neil Mc Manus and Donal Mc Naughton to again get back on level terms. Peter Mason was keeping Portaferry in the game and he traded points with Karl Mc Keegan and then with Paddy Burke as the game ebbed and flowed. Mason again got Portaferry’s noses in front with yet another free but Karl Mc Keegan was busting a gut for Cushendall and despite shipping some heavy tackles he fired over a point from play and then converted a 65’. Kevin Mc Garry won a ball on the right wing and fired over as a determined Portaferry team refused to go down without a fight. The Cushendall management made a switch with fourteen minutes to go, moving Neil Mc Manus to centre forward and Conor Carson to wing back and it immediately paid dividends. Mc Manus collected a pass from Alex Delargy and pointed from 60 yards. Cushendall looked the fitter team as they finished the game in style. Mc Manus got his second in a row after winning an Eoin Gillan poc out. Cormac Mc Allister who had worked hard throughout the game was rewarded when he pointed after an excellent pass from Mark Donaghy. A mix up in the Ports half back line allowed that man Mc Manus to lash over his fourth point of the game and Karl Mc Keegan made no mistake from a 50 yard free. Peter Mason pointed a placed ball for Portaferry but Cushendall were now well on top. The hard working Eoghan Campbell stole through to fire over the final two points of the game as Ruairi Og took the victory, 1-21 to 1-16.
How they played: Getting a win against Portafaferry is never easy but Cushendall stuck to the task and finished well to get the victory. Eoin Gillan was again solid in goals and in front of him Arron Graffin, Paddy Burke and Neil Mc Manus hurled well. Eoghan Campbell and Aidan Mc Naughton both worked their socks off at mid-field and up front Karl Mc Keegan was superb but my man of the match goes to Donal Mc Naughton who is growing into his new role at full forward with every game. His goal was brilliantly finished and he banged over a couple of nice points and also set up opportunities for those around him.
Team: 1.
E Gillan 2.
S Delargy 3. M Burke 4. A Graffin 5. N Mc Manus(0-4) 6. P Burke(0-1) 7. M Donaghy 8. A Mc Naughton 9.
E Campbell (0-4) 10. C Mc Allister(0-1) 11. C
Carson (0-2) 12. P Mc Gill 13. A Delargy(0-1) 14. D Mc Naughton(1-2) 15. K Mc Keegan(0-6)