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Ulster Club Senior Hurling Championship Final 2015
Report by Column Thompson
Ruairi Og Cushendall V Robert Emmet's Slaughtneil
Epic, breathtaking, spectacular, remarkable. Even these words don't do justice in describing the events which unfolded in The Athletic Grounds in Armagh as Ruairi Og produced a herculean effort to deny Slaughtneil. Make no mistake about it this was the mother of all club championship matches, it had absolutely everything. Goals, points, skill, effort, determination and class from both teams. Tension and drama from the first minute to the last.
Playing into a strong breeze in the first half Cushendall were quick to stamp their authority on the game when Neil Mc Manus cut through the Emmet's defence for an early point. He then doubled the lead with a pointed free as Cushendall set out their stall. Slaughtniel then found the posts with points from Cormac O' Doherty (free) and Michael Kearney. Cushendall however were bossing the exchanges, Mc Manus pointed a second free and veteran Karl Mc Keegan found his range with two points in a row from the right wing to put The Dall three points to the good. O' Doherty answered back as Slaughtneil struggled and when Mc Manus landed another placed ball Cushendall looked comfortable 0-8 to 0-3. However a team with the quality of Slaughtneil were always going to have a purple path and this came in the closing five minutes of the half when they hit 1-4 without reply. The goal coming when Brendan Rodgers doubled on Eoin Gillan's initial save which was returned with interest for a goal and at the end of a pulsating 30 minutes hurling the score was Slaughtniel 1-7 Cushendall 0-8.
Slaughtniel started the second half with a point from O' Doherty but Cushendall came roaring back. Mc Manus converted a couple of frees and Donal Mc Naughton won a high ball and fired over from his full forward birth to again tie the game. The men from South Derry weren't going to lay down and they plundered a second goal when Gareth O' Kane capitalised on confusion in the Dall defence to lash the ball to the back of the net to put Slaughneil three ahead once again. Cushendall steadied the ship with another Mc Manus free and a sublime effort from Shane Mc Naughton on the right wing having taken up residence at corner forward. O' Doherty kept the scoreboard ticking over for Slaughtniel with a point but then came a key moment in the game as Christy Mc Naughton sprung into life. Oisin O' Doherty attempted to clear the ball but Mc Naughton produced a super block, sold O' Doherty a dummy to get clear and finished to the net with aplomb to put Cushendall ahead by a point. Rodgers equalised but a monster effort from Eoghan Campbell and a second from Shane Mc Naughton again pushed Cushendall clear. Almost inevitably Slaughtneil brought the fight to Cushendall yet again. Brian Cassidy slipped Aidan Mc Naughton's cover and finished to the net. Christy Mc Naughton levelled before Neil Mc Manus converted a free to put Cushendall in front in the dying embers. From the poc out Slaughtniel swept upfield and with literally seconds left O' Doherty showed all his class with the point that sent an engrossing contest to extra time. Slaughtneil 3-12 Cushendall 1-18.
In the first period of extra time Mc Manus opened the scoring but it was The Derry men who seized the initiative. As players on both sides tired Cassidy, O' Kane and O' Doherty put Slaughtneil two points to the good with the second period of extra time to come.
The Emmet's fan may well have thought they were on the way to creating history as both teams had emptied the fuel tanks. Cushendall however have proven their metal all year and they set about rescuing the situation. Donal Mc Naughton clipped over a sublime sideline cut and Sean Mc Afee leveled from the edge of the square. O' Doherty's point briefly had Slaughtneil back in front but Neil Mc Manus with two and then Conor Carson with a mighty effort wrestled back the lead as Cushendall broke for the finish line. Rodgers clawed one back and Slaughtneil pushed forward again. The ball broke in behind the Dall defence, Mark Mc Guigan looked set to score but a brave save from Eoin Gillan prevented disaster for Cushendall. The ball was swept out over the sideline to momentary safety. Sharpshooter O' Doherty stood over a sideline cut on the fourteen yard line, he went for the point which would send the game to a replay but his brave effort drifted wide and as Eoin Gillan poced out the referee blew full time as Cushendall regained The Four Seasons Cup for the first time since 2008. Final Score Cushendall 1-24 Slaughtneil 3-17 AET.
How they played: I am fast running out of superlatives to throw at this Cushendall team. An absolutely mesmerizing run to an Ulster title. Behind at half time in every Championship game this year the heart, guts, determination and spirit in this team knows no bounds. In goals Eoin Gillan made up for his mistake in the first half with a number of brave saves later in the game. Arron Graffin played a captain's part in defence and he was well assisted by Sean Delargy and Ryan Mc Cambridge. Further forward Shane, Christy and Donal Mc Naughton all looked dangerous and Karl Mc Keegan gave his all but my man of the match goes to the irrepressible Neil Mc Manus. Cometh the hour cometh the man. Neil produced a quite remarkable performance with 0-13. 0-9 from frees and 0-4 from play but it wasn't just his scores that made him stand out. He tackled, hooked, blocked and drove his charges forward from his centre forward birth. An inspirational leader who produced the goods when the chips were down.
Team: 1. E Gillan 2. A Graffin 3. M Burke 4. D Kearney 5. Eoghan Campbell(0-1) 6. R Mc Cambridge 7. S Delargy 8. A Mc Naughton 9. S Mc Naughton(0-2) 10. S Mc Afee(0-1) 11. N Mc Manus(0-13) 12. K Mc Keegan(0-2) 13. P Mc Gill 14. D Mc Naughton(0-2) 15. C Mc Naughton(1-1)
Subs used: C Carson(0-1), E Laverty, C Mc Allister, A Delargy