14 September 2009
County Champions Cushendall booked a place in this year’s final when they overcome the challenge of Loughgiel at Pairc MacUilin, Ballycastle.
Before a big crowd, who basked in the late summer sunshine, Cushendall’s overall strength just gave them the edge over a Loughgiel team who were bidding for their seventh final in succession.
The Shamrocks, who were forced to field without a few key players because of injury, made a bright start and for most of the opening half matched the champions score for score. They led by 0-4 to 0-2 after ten minutes with points from Barney McAuley (2), ‘Ding’ Gillen and ‘Skinner’ Laverty, though Cushendall hit back with two Karl McKeegan points and one form Neill McManus to edge 0-5 to 0-4 ahead by the end of the opening quarter.
The Shamrocks edged back in front when ‘Napper’ McMullan and Barney McAuley sent over points and indeed they should probably have been further ahead after a period of sustained pressure when they hit the post and sent three 65s wide and they were made to pay when Cushendall came back with points from McManus and McKeegan to lead 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time.
The Cushendall half-time team talk must have been inspirational for they emerged a more focused side and within five minutes of the restart they had stretched their lead to four with points from Eamon Laverty, Karl McKeegan and Shane McNaughton, who was causing problems for the Shamrocks defence.
Substitute Liam Watson sent over a long range free to get Loughgiel going again but the champions hit back to deliver the killer blow with a goal from veteran full-forward ‘Monty’ McCambridge who flicked a mishit shot by Neill McManus to the Cushendall net in the fortieth minute.
Cushendall were now in control and they stretched their lead to eight as Eamon Laverty and Shane McNaughton added points before good work by Watson set up Barney McAuley for a late Loughgiel goal.
The Shamrocks pushed hard to save the game and McAuley cut the arrears to back to four, but it was too little, too late and Cushendall go through to a final meeting with Dunloy in two weeks time.
CUSHENDALL – Ronan Kearney, Michael McCambridge, Odhran Scullion, Sean Delargy, Donal McNaughton, Arran Graffin, Paddy McNaughton, Paddy McGill, Aiden Delargy, Eamon Laverty, Karl McKeegan, Neill McManus, Shane McNaugton, Sean Birt, Conor McCambridge.
LOUGHGIEL – DD Quinn, Martin Scullion, Neilly McGarry, Ronan McCloskey, Karl Casey, Sean Og McFadden, Tony McCloskey, Kieran McKinley, Sean McMullan, Eddie McCloskey, Barney McAuley, Mark McFadden, Declan Laverty, Paul Gillen, Benny McCarry.
