Under 16 A Hurling
Cushendall: 1-10(13) Sarsfields: 1-9(12)
Two points deep in injury time by Padraig McKillop and Joseph McLaughlin earned Cushendall a one point victory over Sarsfields in the Under 16 Hurling Championship at Paric Mhuire on Tuesday evening. Just two minutes early it appeared as if Sarsfields would prevail when Anthony McGarrigle and Enda McCartan had edged the visitors ahead with pints in the 31st and 33rd minutes, but there was still time for the home team to respond and they clinched it with a late double.
The first half was evenly matched despite the fact that Cushendall had made a whirlwind start with Padraig McKillop goal inside 20 seconds and a Jseph McLaughlin point a minute later. However Sarsfield worked their way back into the game with some great point taking by McGarrigle and a goal from corner forward Brendan Jackson on 26 minutes saw them go in level at the break.
Two early pointed frees from Padraig McKillop put Cushendall back on top but Sarfsfields responded well with three in a row, two from McGarrigle and one from Jackson to edge a point in front. It stayed that way until three minutes from the end of normal time when a point from full forward Killian McNaughton brought Cushendall level, and when McKillop added another point from a free the home team were in front.
When Sarsfields grabbed two quick points through McGarrile in 61 minutes and McCartan on 63 they appeared to have done enough to earn the win, but Cushendall has still something in the tank and late points by McKillop and McLaughlin earned them the win.
In the other game in the group St Paul’s hosted Loughgiel at Shaw’s Road where the honours were shared as it ended 2-8 to 1-11. That was St Paul’s first game in the five team group which give them one point in the league standing (but with a game in hand). Loughgiel now sit top with three points while Cushendall and Sarsfields have 2 apiece.
