Cushendall 3-20 Naomh Eanna 1-12

A strong second half display saw Cushendall advance in the Senior Feis Cup at the expense of Naomh Eanna at Pairc Mhuir on Thurday evening. The Glengormley men had performed really well in the opening half and with just five minutes left for play in that opening period they lead by two points. However a strong finish to the half saw Cushendall turn things around and they went in four up at the break and then pushed on in the second half to win with a bit to spare.

Fred McCurry pointed Cushendall ahead in the second minute, but that was to be their only score for 14 minutes and during that time Luke O’Connor brought Naomh Eanna level. Top scorer Christy McNaughton put Cushendall back ahead on 15 minutes with a point from a free but Cormac Jennings soon had Naomh Eanna back on terms with one from play at the other end. The pace began to pick up a bit when Christy McNaughton and Emmet Laverty got two in quick succession, only to see Naomh Eanna hit back with three of their own inside a minute, two from centre back Eoin Conlon and one from Cormac Jennings to edge their team ahead.

Fergus McCambridge pointed to bring the Ruairis level but two quick replies from Diarmuid Maguire and Cormac Jennings had the Glengormley men two ahead with just two minutes of normal time left in the opening half. Things looked promising for Naomh Eanna at this stage, but the home team produced a strong finish and after Christy McNaughton sent over a ‘65’ midfielder Alex Delargy got through for a goal which was followed by points from McNaughton and Emmet Laverty, which gave their team a four point lead at the break.

Points from Cormac Ross, Cormac Jennings and Diarmuid Maguire early in the second half kept Naomh Eanna in touch but the tide was turning in Cushendall’s favour and a run of scores in a five minute spell between the 37th and 42nd minutes put them firmly in command. Young substitute Ronan McAteer started it all with a goal, and two from Christy McNaughton and one from McCurry put them seven ahead. Points from Eoghan Caldwell and Cormac Jennings kept them withing range but another scoring burst from the Ruairis which yielded 1-1 from Christy McNaughton, plus points from ‘Frein’ Laverty and Fred McCurry sealed the deal.

The visitors did manage a goal from Cormac Jennings five minutes from time but the Ruairis place in the next round was secured by this time and three unanswered points saw them finish 14 points clear.

CUSHENDALL

Eoin Gillan, Terry McAlister, Martin Burke, Liam Gillan, Scott Walsh, Arron Graffin, Mark Emerson, Fred McCurry, Alex Delargy, Dominic Delargy, Christy McNaughton, Fergus McCambridge, Emmet Laverty, Conor Carson, Andrew Delargy.

Subs – Eoin Laverty or Dominic Delargy (inj)

NAOMH EANNA

Martin Curran, Eoin Maguire, Rian Gillan, Ruairi Diamond, Luke O’Connor, Eoin Conlon, Cormac Ross, Ryan Bogue, Ruairi Donaghy, Daniel Lowry, Cormac Jennings, Diarmuid Maguire, Eoin Jennings, Conor McSteen, Eoghan Caldwell

Referee – Owen Elliott (All Saints)