Hurling & Camogie

Ruairi Og's and Na Piarsaigh ratings from All-Ireland final

Ruairi Og's Christy McNaughton goes down under the challenge of Na Piarsaigh's Kieran Breen and Kieran Kennedy during Thursday's All-Ireland Club Hurling final at Croke Park <br />Picture by Seamus Loughran&nbsp;
Ruairi Og's Christy McNaughton goes down under the challenge of Na Piarsaigh's Kieran Breen and Kieran Kennedy during Thursday's All-Ireland Club Hurling final at Croke Park
Picture by Seamus Loughran 
Ruairi Og's Christy McNaughton goes down under the challenge of Na Piarsaigh's Kieran Breen and Kieran Kennedy during Thursday's All-Ireland Club Hurling final at Croke Park
Picture by Seamus Loughran 

RUAIRI OG, CUSHENDALL

Eoin Gillan: The Cushendall ‘keeper didn’t have much chance of saving Na Piarsaigh’s two first-half goals, but he made a stunning double save late on to deny the Limerick men further majors. 7

Ryan McCambridge: The 21-year-old had an outstanding year but he struggled to contain the lively Kevin Downes who bagged 1-2. 5.5

Martin Burke: Another solid citizen for the Ruairi Ogs this season, the 27-year-old full-back got better as the game progressed and made some excellent clearances under serious pressure. 6.5

Arron Graffin: The match-up with Adrian Breen looked the right call, but the Na Piarsaigh wing-forward was simply too powerful and accurate to contain. Troubled by a knee injury all season, Graffin never got to grips with his man. 5.5

David Kearney: The 21-year-old made a nervy start but improved as the game wore on. Had a decent spell on David Dempsey and battled gamely. 6

Eoghan Campbell: More suited to a wing-back role, the Antrim defender was cleverly pulled out of the centre by David Breen. Good in possession though and raced through to hit a fine second half point. 6

Sean Delargy: Got off to a shaky start and conceded ground to the in-form Shane Dowling. Called ashore in the second half after struggling with a calf problem in the build-up. 5.5

Shane McNaughton: One of the few Ruairi Ogs who played to their potential. McNaughton was outstanding from start to finish and was a man-of-the-match contender. Hit four points from play. Nerveless display in midfield and later in attack. 8.5

Alec Delargy: Got Ruairi Ogs off the mark with a fine score but was off target with another moments later. Out-muscled in the aerial stakes. Came back after nine months to play the shirt off his back in the All-Ireland semi-final. 6

Conor Carson: Cushendall’s big target man started slowly but came alive in the closing stages of the first half. Hit a brilliant 27th minute point and offered stout resistance in the air. 6.5

Neil McManus: In the wars in the first-half. Missed two early placed balls but flawless thereafter. Grabbed Cushendall’s first major and his turn and pass for Karl McKeegan’s goal was superb. 7

Sean McAfee: After a quiet opening, the Cushendall attacker fired a ground shot just wide of Na Piarsiagh’s goal. Had a couple of bright moments in the second-half. 6

Paddy McGill: He withdrew into the middle of the field but never got on the ball. He pushed further forward in the second half but with little reward. 5.5

Donal McNaughton: Competed well for several high balls and was up for the fight, but made way for Karl McKeegan after 38 minutes. 5.5

Christy McNaughton: Started at wing-forward and planted one high ball onto the Na Piarsaigh square that nearly yielded a first-half goal. Otherwise, the teenager was on the fringes. 5.5

SUBSTITUTES


Paddy Burke: Injured for most of the year, but played most of the second-half on Dowling. 5.5

Karl McKeegan: Added much-needed composure to the attack and majored with a clever flicked finish. 6.5

Aidan McNaughton: Entered when it was all but over. Had fine county and provincial campaigns. 5.5

Eunan McKillop: Not on long enough to be rated.

Eoin Laverty: Not on long enough to be rated.

NA PIARSAIGH

Padraic Kennedy: Mixed up his puck-outs left and right, short and long. Targeted the roving David Breen at centre-forward to good effect. 7.5

Mike Casey: Yellow carded for a foul on Conor Carson that led to a Cushendall point, but otherwise wasn’t found wanting. 7.5

Kieran Breen: Unflappable under the high ball in the first half but struggled when the lively Shane McNaughton moved to the full-forward line in the second half. 7

Kieran Kennedy: Produced a good block in the 14th minute to stop Donal Naughton’s effort finding the net when a goal at that stage could have brought Cushendall back into it. 7.5

Mike Foley: Found himself up against both Donal and Christy McNaughton at times and coped admirably, nullifying their threat. 7.5

Ronan Lynch: Provided a perfect shield for the full-back line, always there to hoover up breaking ball from Cushendall puck-outs, his quick, clever distribution often getting the Limerick men on to the front foot. Scored a free in the second half. 8

Cathal King: Had a good battle with McManus in the first half which he probably edged. Produced a lung bursting run from deep in his own half before laying the ball off for Downes to score the killer second goal five minutes before half-time. 8

Alan Dempsey: The tall midfielder provided a physical presence around centrefield, seeing plenty of ball and firing over four points from play, including one monster effort in the second half. 8.5

Will O’Donoghue: Held the fort while Dempsey roamed free. The shackles came off late on when the game was all but over as he burst forward to fire over a point. 7.5

Shane Dowling: Fluffed his lines with a 17th minute goal chance but didn’t let that bother him. Unerring from frees, and when given any sight of the posts. Finished with 0-7 after a superb performance. 8.5

David Breen: The focal point of the attack, Cushendall struggled to get to grips with the big forward. Drifted out to the right to get his hand on Kennedy’s puck-outs and had a big influence in the first half. Picked up a yellow card and was eventually substituted late on. 8.5

Adrian Breen: See Star Man below

Kevin Downes: Finished the game with 1-2, he was cool in firing low to the net for Na Piarsaigh’s second goal. Showed his class. 8.5

David Dempsey: Didn’t score but laid on Breen’s crucial early goal. Worked hard and won plenty of ball. 7.5

Peter Casey: His pace caused Cushendall problem’s at times, and also won his fair share of high ball. Finished with 0-3. 8

SUBSTITUTES


Kevin Ryan: Came on with six minutes left when the game was well won. 7

Pat Gleeson: Added some gloss to the scoreline with a late 65. 7.5

STAR MAN


Adrian Breen: A late replacement for Kevin Ryan - and boss Shane O’Neill could hardly have wished for a greater dividend. Fired to the net within 30 seconds, Cushendall just could not cope with his direct running as he added a further four points from play and almost scored another goal late on. 9