Weather conditions were horrendous with a near hurricane wind blowing down the field into the pavilion end and Ballycran won the toss and elected to play with the advantage in the 1st half but Cushendall scored the 1st point of the day when Shane McNaughton tapped over a free after Conor Carson was fouled. Ballycran responded with Scott Nicholson who slotted over a free of their own.
Shane McNaughton restored the ‘Dalls lead when he collected a superb crossfield pass by John McManus and split the uprights from 30 yards. Ballycran were getting some shots at goal, but they hit 4 wides in a row as the tackling and pressure from the Cushendall team were excellent and the ‘Cran forwards were continually shooting under heavy pressure. Ballycran then got their sights adjusted and added 2 points in a row, through James Coyle and Chris Egan.
Neil McManus then tied the game up after Eoghan Campbell was fouled and he stroked over the resulting free from 50 yards. Ballycrans Centre Half Padraig Flynn stroked over a good score from play after good work from Michael Hughes. Ballycran then stretched further in front after Scott Nicholson sent 2 frees over the bar after Ryan McCambridge and Sean Delargy were blown up for over carrying the ball.
Then came the score of the half, when Shane McNaughton was striking a free into the wind, the ball was blown behind him and Shane managed to twist himself round
and strike the ball from behind him over the Ballycran crossbar for a good score.
There was just time for Ballycran to add another point through Conor Woods to leave the half time score:
Ballycran 0-7 Ruairi Og 0-4
Cushendall needed to start the 2nd half in good form and they certainly did. Eoghan Campbell won possession and was fouled and Neil McManus knocked over the resultant free. Cushendall won possession from the puck out and again their pressure paid off as Conor Carson was fouled and Shane McNaughton dispatched the free.
Cushendall were attacking in fine fettle and Sean Delargy carried the ball into midfield, played a nice pass to Eoghan Campbell, who then supplied a hand pass to the on rushing Shane McNaughton, and he split the uprights for a very nice score.
The Ruairis edged ahead when Alex Delargy was hauled back and Shane McNaughton tapped over the free. The next score came from the hurl of Neil McManus who lashed over a ‘65’ and the ‘Dall were up by 2.
Ballycran got off the mark when Conor Woods was fouled and he knocked over the free. Donal McNaughton then sprang into life, after winning a high ball, he split the uprights from 80 yards. Conor Woods replied from the dead ball for Ballycran but Donal McNaughton knocked over 2 great points the 1st came from his ability to win ball and the 2nd was after a great pass by his cousin Shane.
Ryan McCambridge got into the act when he picked up possession, and blasted over the Ballycran crossbar for a brilliant point.
Cushendall looked like coasting home but all credit to Ballycran, they never gave up and were rewarded when Conor Woods blasted to the net to leave the minimum between the teams coming into injury time. Ballycran went for it and were awarded a few ‘softish’ frees but tigerish defending from Arron Graffin and Martin Burke in particular kept them at bay and as the final whistle sounded Ruairi Ogs had won on a scoreline of:
Ballycran 1-9 Ruairi Og 0-13
How we played:
As this was the proverbial game of 2 halves Ruairi Og came out of this game with a lot of positives and very few negatives. Eoin Gillan was assured in goals, Ryan McCambridge, Sean Delargy, Neil McManus and Donal McNaughton were strong at the back, Paddy McNaughton and Eoghan Campbell were on top in midfield and up front Shane McNaughton was the pick of the bunch but man of the match is a joint venture today, Martin Burke and Arron Graffin were colossal, dealing with the wind in the 1st half they turned ball after ball and in the 2nd half when Ballycran were going for the win, they made tackle after tackle.
Team:
E Gillan 2. M Burke 3. A Graffin 4. R McCambridge (0-1) 5. S Delargy 6. N McManus (0-3) 7. D McNaughton (0-3) 8. E Campbell 9. P McNaughton 10. C McAlister 11. C Carson 12. J McManus 13. Aidan McNaughton 14. Shane McNaughton (0-6)
Sub: D Delargy