Report by Colum Thompson
Ruairi Og claimed the Antrim Minor Hurling Championship with an outstanding team performance against Belfast side St. Johns . The seeds of victory were sown with a power house first half display from the young Ruairis where they outscored The Johnnies 3-12 to 0-1. James Duffin got the first score of the game when he pointed from the right wing. Ryan Mc Cambridge doubled Cushendall’s advantage when he burst forward and converted from 50 yards. In the eighth minute Cushendall were awarded a free on the Johnnies 21 and ace marks man Christy Mc Naughton stepped up and blasted the ball to the net. Mc Naughton then added a point, again from a free after Alex Delargy had been fouled. Conor Johnson got St. Johns off the mark but it was all one way traffic. Alex Delargy got in on the act when he won possession, beat his man and tapped over a tidy point. Next Ryan Delargy gathered the ball on the 14 yard line, he cut past a defender and fired a great shot to the bottom corner of the net to put Ruairi Og firmly in the driving seat. Then came what was arguably the score of the game, Cormac Mc Allister sent a low ball along the left wing to Conrad Mc Donnell who, in one motion flicked the ball up and doubled it over the bar. Further points followed from all angles and places on the Dall team. Cormac Mc Allister, Ryan Delargy, Conrad Mc Donnell, Ryan Mc Cambridge and Alex Delargy all raised white flags and as proceedings drew to a close poacher Mc Naughton goaled to leave the half time score Ruairi Og 3-12 St. Johns 0-1.
Ruairi Og claimed the Antrim Minor Hurling Championship with an outstanding team performance against Belfast side St. Johns . The seeds of victory were sown with a power house first half display from the young Ruairis where they outscored The Johnnies 3-12 to 0-1. James Duffin got the first score of the game when he pointed from the right wing. Ryan Mc Cambridge doubled Cushendall’s advantage when he burst forward and converted from 50 yards. In the eighth minute Cushendall were awarded a free on the Johnnies 21 and ace marks man Christy Mc Naughton stepped up and blasted the ball to the net. Mc Naughton then added a point, again from a free after Alex Delargy had been fouled. Conor Johnson got St. Johns off the mark but it was all one way traffic. Alex Delargy got in on the act when he won possession, beat his man and tapped over a tidy point. Next Ryan Delargy gathered the ball on the 14 yard line, he cut past a defender and fired a great shot to the bottom corner of the net to put Ruairi Og firmly in the driving seat. Then came what was arguably the score of the game, Cormac Mc Allister sent a low ball along the left wing to Conrad Mc Donnell who, in one motion flicked the ball up and doubled it over the bar. Further points followed from all angles and places on the Dall team. Cormac Mc Allister, Ryan Delargy, Conrad Mc Donnell, Ryan Mc Cambridge and Alex Delargy all raised white flags and as proceedings drew to a close poacher Mc Naughton goaled to leave the half time score Ruairi Og 3-12 St. Johns 0-1.
Conditions were deteriorating as the second half began with a strong wind and driving rain affecting the play. Conor Johnson got St. Johns off the mark and they then hit three long range frees in a row. However any thoughts of a comeback were quickly put to bed. Ryan Mc Cambridge again burst up the field and boomed over his third point of the game. Cormac Mc Allister beat his marker and pointed from a tight angle and Christy Mc Naughton converted a free. Pearse Bannon got his name on the scoresheet as well with a well worked point. Mc Allister got his fourth of the game after a swashbuckling solo run and Christy Mc Naughton clipped over two frees. As the game drew to a close Conor Johnson pointed for St. Johns but the final score of the game went to Dall sub Conal Brown who cut in from the right wing for a point to put the icing on the cake for Cushendall. Final score Ruairi Og 3-20 St. Johns 0-7.
How they played: This was an excellent team performance, from 1 to 15 and all five subs:every player gave their all. Colin Hayden did well in goals in difficult conditions for a goalie. In front of him Eoin Mc Manus, Stephen Walsh and Paddy Burke were all solid as a rock. Up front all six forwards got their names on the scoresheet with Christy Mc Naughton, Cormac Mc Allister and Ryan Delargy particularly impressive. However my man of the match goes to Ryan Mc Cambridge who was excellent throughout. His high fielding was a joy to watch and he managed to get up the pitch for three great points as well.
Ruairí Óg: 1. C Hayden 2. E Mc Manus 3. D O’ Hara 4. S Mc Auley 5. S Walsh 6. P Burke 7. R Mc Cambridge(0-3) 8. P Bannon(0-1) 9. D Whelan 10. C Mc Donnell(0-2) 11. C Mc Allister(0-4) 12. J Duffin(0-1) 13. R Delargy(1-1) 14. A Delargy(0-2) 15. C Mc Naughton(2-5)
Subs used: R Kinney, C Brown(0-1), N Mc Naughton, D McLaughlin &J Mc Curry
St John's: 1. Matthew Mc Kiernan, 2. Dermot Heading, 3. Ryan Mc Nulty, 4. Ross Hannigan, 5. Conor Johnston (0.04), 6. Donal Nugent (0.03), 7. Caoimhin Hanna, 8. Ronan Carroll, 9. James Morgan, 11. Ciaran Mohan, 10. Matthew Mc Guinness, 12. Ciaran Hyland, 13. Ryan Peden, 14. Ciaran Donnelly, 15. Conor Mc Evoy
St John's: 1. Matthew Mc Kiernan, 2. Dermot Heading, 3. Ryan Mc Nulty, 4. Ross Hannigan, 5. Conor Johnston (0.04), 6. Donal Nugent (0.03), 7. Caoimhin Hanna, 8. Ronan Carroll, 9. James Morgan, 11. Ciaran Mohan, 10. Matthew Mc Guinness, 12. Ciaran Hyland, 13. Ryan Peden, 14. Ciaran Donnelly, 15. Conor Mc Evoy
sub: Oran Mc Kavanagh