Ruairi Og 2-15 St. John’s 1-15
Goals from Ed McQuillan in the 13th minute of the opening half and 16 minutes into the second were the scores that sent Ruairi Og, Cushendall through to the U21 Hurling final after a bruising contest against St. John’s at Slemish Park tonight.
Cushendall looked to be on their way to a comfortable victory when they led 1-10 to 0-7 at the break but the ‘Johnnies’ came strong in the second half, despite having Eoin McParland Red carded in the 40th minute and closed the gap to two at the three quarter mark.
McQuillan’s second goal created a bit of breathing space for Ruairi Og but St. John’s kept going to the final whistle but just couldn’t get the goal that might have sent an entertaining contest into extra time.
The opening exchanges were fairly even with Ed McQuillan and Emmet Laverty on target for the North Antrim side and Donal McKernan and Shea Shannon replying for the Whiterock Road side. Emmet Laverty converted a couple of close range frees to edge Cushendall two in front as Ciaran McKenna was substituted after a strong challenge to be replaced by Ruairi Galbraith.
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Not this time! Two goal hero, Ed McQuillan is challenged by Odhran Carleton, St. Johns.
Shea Shannon pulled one back for St. John’s with a well struck long range point but Ruairi Og replied with a goal from Ed McQuillan to move four in front with 13 minutes gone. Emmet Laverty and his mid-field partner, Scott Walsh extended the Cushendall lead to six by the 21st minute and Conor McHugh struck a beauty to increase that lead to seven.
St. John’s tried to respond and a good move opened up the ‘Dall’ defence but Odhran McGrath volleyed over from close range when he might have had a goal. Despite that miss St. John’s came strong again with points from Donal McKernan and Shea Shannon to serve notice that they were still very much in the game.
They continued to look vulnerable on the counter attack however and Ed McQuillan looked to be in for a second goal but was pulled down just outside the area with Emmet Laverty’s attempt on goal deflected wide from the resulting free.
Laverty pointed the resulting ‘65’ and Ed McQuillan got on the end of a great sideline cut from Conor McHugh to extend their lead to six and in the closing minutes of the half Emmet Laverty and Donal McKernan exchanged further points to leave the half time score 1-10 to 0-7 in favour of the Ruairi Og.
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Aidan McMahon attempts to break through the Cushendall defence
Emmet Laverty struck a massive point on the restart to move his side seven in front but a point from Shea Shannon and an excellent goal from Shea Shannon, who got on the end of an astute hand pass from Aidan McMahon closed the gap to three and St. John’s were right back in the mix.
Cushendall found a response through an Emmet Laverty point and as exchanges intensified Eoin McParland was Red carded for pulling an opponent’s faceguard but it failed to disrupt the Johnnies effort.
After Niall McCormack extended the Cushendall lead with a point in the 9thminute St. John’s responded positively with points from Shea Shannon and McKernan to leave three in it once more and it was clear that this game was far from over.
The boys in Maroon looked in a spot of trouble but they found the appropriate response through the excellent Ed McQuillan who got on the end of a good move to fire home his second goal to put six between the sides with 14 minutes of normal play remaining.
Dannan McKeogh replied with a Johnnies point and then Ruairi Sharpe came bravely of his line to deny Peter McCallin and was hurt in the process but was able to continue after treatment. St. John’s continued to press and a couple of Donal McKernan points left just three in it again by the 28th minute but that was as close as they got.
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Peter McCallin, St. Johns gets out in front of Francis McCurry to win possession
McQuillan extended that lead to four again and Liam Gillan made a great block to deny McCallin before Shea Shannon and Aaron Bradley points for the Whiterock side and an Ed McQuillan reply for the ‘Dall’ concluded the scoring.
A good game of hurling, played with real championship intensity with Liam Gillan, Jack McKay, Emmet Laverty, Conor McHugh and the excellent Ed McQuillan the outstanding performers in a Cushendall side who did enough to get them over the line.
St. John’s played their part however and their never say die attitude ensured their opponents could never relax with John Darragh, Conal Bohill, Donal McKernan, Shea Shannon and Dannan McKeogh the men who caught the eye.
Ruairi Og: Ruairi Sharpe, Jack McKay, Liam Gillan, Donal Kearney, Senan Black, Francis McCurry, Ruairi McCollam, Emmet Laverty, Scott Walsh, Niall McCormack, Conor McHugh, Ronan McCambridge, Ed McQuillan, Aiden McKenna, Ruairi McAuley. Subs: Cathal McDonnell
St. John’s: Conor Flannery, Odhran Carleton, John Darragh, Eoin McParland, Odhran McKenna, Conal Bohill, Ciaran McKenna, Shea Shannon, Niall McCann, Donal McKernan, Aidan McMahon, Aaron Bradley, Dannan McKeogh, Peter McCallin, Odhran McGrath. Subs: Ruairi Galbraith,
Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)