AIB Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship final: Ruairí Óg, Cushendall (Antrim) 1-15 St Joseph’s, Ballycran (Down) 0-10
NOBODY does scrappy and physical like the Ruairí Óg's do it.
There were moments of blinding quality from Neil McManus in the first-half. Donal McNaughton made the stand rise to its feet a few times. Arron Graffin’s powerful display was the spectacular end of a defensive display that largely won them this game. Mostly, it was about grinding. Doing enough. And partly playing on Ballycran’s inexperience of days like this.
A very healthy 3,742 saw them struggle to get to grips in a first-half that ended with the underdogs eight down. Cushendall had gone 0-4 to 0-1 ahead and, while their directness wasn’t always paying profit in the full-forward line, it was forcing Ballycran back a bit, and a bit more, until they were all on top of themselves in defence with no way out.
MATCH STATS
Cushendall: E Gillan; D Kearney, M Burke, S Walsh; S Delargy (0-1), A Graffin, P Burke (0-1); E Campbell (0-1), N McManus (0-9, 0-6f, 0-1 65’); D McNaughton (0-2, 0-1 line ball), F McCambridge (0-1), R McCambridge; P McGill, S McAfee (1-0), A Delargy; Subs: E McKillop for F McCambridge (42), F McCurry for Graffin (52), C McClafferty for McGill (57), N McCormick for McAfee (64), E Laverty for McNaughton (70); Yellow cards: R McCambridge (38), D Kearney (38)
Ballycran: S Keith; M Hughes, P Hughes, S Ennis; M Taylor, P Flynn, B Nicholson; S Nicholson (0-2), P Savage; C McAllister, C Woods (0-3, 0-1f), L Savage; N Breen (0-1), C McManus (0-3f), J Coyle (0-1); Subs: G Hughes for Breen (h-t), C Egan for McAllister (h-t), P McSkimmons for Coyle (67), A Bell for Taylor (68); Blood replacement: A Bell for Ennis (26-29); Yellow cards: C Woods (23, 67), C Egan (38), M Hughes (66); Red card: C Woods (second yellow, 67)
Referee: J Connors (Donegal)
Attendance: 3,742
Ulster Club IHC Final: St Gall’s, Belfast (Antrim) 2-12 Keady Lámh Dhearg (Armagh) 0-11
ST GALL'S became Ulster Intermediate Hurling champions for the second time with this seven-point win over Armagh side Keady Lámh Dhearg.
The Belfast side celebrated their first provincial intermediate success for the first time since 2009, when they went on to reach the All-Ireland final the following spring.
MATCH STATS
St Gall’s: K McGreevy; S Morrison, J McDaniel (capt.), A Hannaway; N O’Neill, A Gallagher, S Burke; J Hopkins, K Stewart (0-1); C McGourty (1-5, 0-4 frees), Kieran McGourty (0-1), J McGreevy (0-1); T O Ciarain (0-3 frees), C Burke, M Napier (0-1); Subs: P McCaffrey for K McGreevy (h-t); S McAreavey (1-0) for Napier (h-t); A Healy for Hopkins (46); M Donnelly for S Burke (62); Yellow cards: J McGreevy (26 and 38); K McGourty (50); S Burke (58);Red card: J McGreevy (38, two yellows).
Keady: J Burke (capt.); L McKee, N Green, B Breen; O Keenan, J King (0-1), E McDonnell; D McKenna, S Renaghan (0-1); P McCormack, C Corvan (0-6, 0-1 free, 0-1 ‘65’), J Harvey; P Breen (0-1), P Green (0-2), J Corvan; Subs: J Shortt for McKenna (33); M McDermott for McDonnell (40); O Fullerton for Harvey (50); Yellow cards: P Green (32); Shortt (41); McDermott (58).
Referee: Barry Winters (Tyrone) (replaced by Colin Murray (Down) at h-t).
Ulster Club Junior Hurling final: Castleblayney (Monaghan) 1-14 Robert Emmet’s Cushendun (Antrim) 0-16
THE hopes of the hurlers of Robert Emmet’s, Cushendun were dashed yesterday afternoon as Castleblayney edged them out at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh to lift the Ulster juniorclub title.
It was a heartbreaking end to an unforgettable season for the small north Antrim club.
MATCH STATS
Castleblayney: P Collins; C Merrick, E Leonard, C McNally; B Connor, P Treanor, J McHugh; B Flanagan, P Finnegan; H Byrne, F Rafter (0-11 0-9 frees, 0-1 ’65), F Finnegan (0-1); C Callan, B McGuigan, M Treanor (1-2); Subs: A Kenny for C Callan (40); Yellow cards: B O’Connor (51), H Byrne (62); Red card: P Treanor (63)
Cushendun: E Magee; S Hamilton, A Corbett, J McKay; M Scally, D O’Hara, T Scally; M McCartin, C McHugh (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 ’65); P Bannon (0-1), E Duffin (0-1), D McQuillan (0-2); J Morgan (0-2), C McNeill (0-5 frees), D Kilgore (0-2); Subs: E McQuillan for E Duffin (35), N McAuley for P Bannon (40), RJ McQuillan for J Morgan (53); Yellow cards: C McHugh (49)
Referee: T Conway (Derry)
