Ruairi Og V Mc Quillans Match Report

Ruairi Og V Mc Quillan’s

 Cushendall and Ballycastle met in this top of the table clash with both teams unbeaten this year in the Antrim league. The Town started like a team who were intent on keeping their good run going. Saul Mc Caughan gathered possession on the left wing, rounded Aidan Mc Naughton and fired a shot which was well saved by Ronan Kearney but Mc Caughan flicked the rebound to the net to give Ballycastle the perfect start. Malachy Dallas pushed them further in front before Karl Mc Keegan got Cushendall on the board with a monster point from 85 yards. Neil Mc Manus doubled Cushendall’s tally when he converted a free but Malachy Dallas kept the scoreboard ticking over for Ballycastle with a free of his own. Neil Mc Manus then went on the rampage scoring three points in a row, one from as free and two excellent points from play. Chris Boyle stopped the rot with a point for Ballycastle and Dallas converted another free. Mc Manus and Dallas exchanged pointed frees and Francis Mc Auley and Stephen Mc Afee got a point apiece for their teams. Karl Mc Keegan was hurling well at midfield and he got his second point of the half after being well found by Conor Carson. In the closing stages of the half Francis Mc Auley shook off the close attentions of Michael Dallat to flick over a point from a tight angle and just before the referee blew for half time Ciaran Clarke tapped over a point to leave the scores level at half time Ruairi Og 0-10 Mc Quillan’s 1-7.

The second half started off just as the first had finished, with no quarter being asked or given, Paddy Mc Gill lofted over a great point after good support play by Neil Mc Manus. Saul Mc Caughan replied for Ballycastle to again tie the game. Francis Mc Auley got his third point of the match in the 8^th minute but again Ballycastle drew level with a pointed free from the ever reliable Malachy Dallas. With 15 minutes to go the game was there to be won and it was Cushendall who upped the tempo of the match. Neil Mc Manus converted a 65, Conor Carson fired over 2 super points in a row and Mc Manus lashed over an absolutely majestic score from the right hand side of the field to put clear daylight between the teams for the first time in the game. Ballycastle to their credit again came back at Cushendall, Malachy Dallas pointed from play but his score was cancelled out by another tidy point from Conor Carson. Neil Mc Auley and Neil Mc Manus traded points from play and Dallas fired over a couple of frees in quick succession. Then 16 year old Alex Delargy, on as a second half sub, waltzed through the Castle defence to knock over a point for Cushendall. Malachy Dallas scored another free to put just 2 points between the sides with only moments remaining but that man Conor Carson was on hand to register the insurance point and with it victory for Cushendall.

 How they played: Credit must go to both teams who served up a highly entertaining game of hurling, for Cushendall Aaron Graffin was again solid at full back and Donal Mc Naughton gave a great display at centre half. Karl Mc Keegan was the pick of the midfielders and up front Francis Mc Auley was always dangerous and Neil Mc Manus fired over some wonderful scores but my man of the match goes to Conor Carson who really stood up and was counted when the game was in the melting pot. He got the better of the physical exchanges and his four great second half points were vital in securing victory for his team.