.jpg&w=800)
Ruairí Óg 3.19 v 2.05 St Galls
Ruairi Og welcomed back Neil McManus from injury for the visit of Belfast side St. Gall's and the Dall star didn't take long to make his presence felt. He hit the opening two points of the game from placed balls. Paddy Freil got St. Gall's off the mark when he pointed following good work from Jackson McGreevy. Alex Delargy won another free for Cushendall about 30 yards from goal. McManus stood over the dead ball, noticing space to Kurtis McGreevy's right and he send a thunderbolt to the bottom corner of the net to put The Ruairis 1-2 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes. From the resulting poc out Cushendall sent a high ball into The Gall's square and Alex Delargy finished to the net through a crowd of players to push Cushendall further ahead. Niall Mc Cormick added a point and when Paddy McGill lashed a ground stroke to the net just minutes later it really put Cushendall in the driving seat. Credit to St. Gall's, despite shipping three goals in the space of six minutes they fought back with two points, one from Jackson McGreevy and the other from Gregory McGreevy. Cushendall were running at the St. Gall's defence and winning frees, McManus converting three in a row. As half time approached both Aidan McNaughton and then Paddy Burke landed points to leave Cushendall in a commanding position. However in first half injury time St. Gall's were thrown a lifeline. Marty Burke was adjudged to have fouled Anton McCaffrey in The Dall square and referee Colm Cunning awarded the penalty. Jackson McGreevy stepped up and blasted the ball past the diving Conor McAllister to leave the score at the short whistle Ruairi Og 3-8 St. Gall's 1-4.
Ruairi Og welcomed back Neil McManus from injury for the visit of Belfast side St. Gall's and the Dall star didn't take long to make his presence felt. He hit the opening two points of the game from placed balls. Paddy Freil got St. Gall's off the mark when he pointed following good work from Jackson McGreevy. Alex Delargy won another free for Cushendall about 30 yards from goal. McManus stood over the dead ball, noticing space to Kurtis McGreevy's right and he send a thunderbolt to the bottom corner of the net to put The Ruairis 1-2 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes. From the resulting poc out Cushendall sent a high ball into The Gall's square and Alex Delargy finished to the net through a crowd of players to push Cushendall further ahead. Niall Mc Cormick added a point and when Paddy McGill lashed a ground stroke to the net just minutes later it really put Cushendall in the driving seat. Credit to St. Gall's, despite shipping three goals in the space of six minutes they fought back with two points, one from Jackson McGreevy and the other from Gregory McGreevy. Cushendall were running at the St. Gall's defence and winning frees, McManus converting three in a row. As half time approached both Aidan McNaughton and then Paddy Burke landed points to leave Cushendall in a commanding position. However in first half injury time St. Gall's were thrown a lifeline. Marty Burke was adjudged to have fouled Anton McCaffrey in The Dall square and referee Colm Cunning awarded the penalty. Jackson McGreevy stepped up and blasted the ball past the diving Conor McAllister to leave the score at the short whistle Ruairi Og 3-8 St. Gall's 1-4.
Cushendall again started well with points from three McManus frees, Scott Walsh and Fergus McCambridge while Anton McCaffrey replied for the visitors. The writing was really on the wall for St. Gall's and Cushendall took the foot off the gas with one eye on a Championship quarter final. The intensity was gone from the game totally. Jackson McGreevy got St. Gall's a goal when his long free skidded off Ryan McCambridge's stick and into the net but the result was already beyond doubt. Cushendall were throwing the ball about trying to make things happen and they hit the final six points of the game, three from Neil McManus, two from Scott Walsh and a great score from Shane McNaughton who hit a rasping drive inches over the bar following a brilliant pass from McManus. Full time score Ruairi Og 3-19 St. Gall's 2-5.
How they played: There was a certain degree of shadow boxing with both teams knowing that, barring a massive upset in the St. Enda's V Loughgiel game, they were both already through to the quarter finals. For their part St. Gall's were always competitive and played right to the final whistle. Cushendall however just had too much fire power and some of the movement from their midfielders and forwards was a joy to watch. Jackson McGreevy gave a good account of himself in The St. Gall's engine room and further forward Anton McCaffrey was always dangerous. For Cushendall Joe McCurry, Ryan McCambridge and Arron Graffin defended well. Niall McCormick again worked his socks off at midfield and up front Neil McManus and Paddy McGill pulled the strings. However man of the match goes to the impressive Paddy Burke who not only defended superbly, he was also the launch pad for so many of Cushendall's attacks. Sitting deep he time and again gave the right ball at the right time to put forwards in prime position to score.
Teams
Ruairi Og: 1. C McAllister 2. J McCurry 3. M Burke 4. A Graffin 5. Stephen Walsh 6. P Burke(0-1) 7. R McCambridge 8. N McCormick(0-1) 9. E Campbell 10. F McCambridge 11. N McManus(1-10) 12. A McNaughton(0-1) 13. A Delargy(1-2) 14. P McGill(1-0) 15. Scott Walsh(0-3)
Subs used: Shane McNaughton(0-1), D Delargy, F McCurry, S McAfee.
St. Gall's: St. Gall's 1. C McGreevy 2. L McCluskey 3. J McDaniel 4. S Morrison 5. C McCaffrey 6. N O'Neill 7. R Irvine 8. J Hopkins 9. J McGreevy(1-2) 10. G McGreevy(0-1) 11. K McGourty 12. P Freil(0-1) 13. S McAreavy 14. A McCaffrey(0-1) 15. M Donnelly.