16 September 2012
Loughgiel, Dunloy, Cloughmills, St Paul’s Cushendun and St Enda’s are still standing after a big weekend action in the Antrim Hurling Championships.
The Shamrocks had too much firepower for St John’s in Saturday evening’s opening senior semi-final in Pairc MacUilin Ballycastle as they booked a place in their ninth championship final in ten years with an emphatic 2-23 to 0-11 win. On Sunday afternoon in Healy Park Loughgiel Dunloy played some of their best hurling for years to beat Cushendall by 4-11 to 2-11 and set up the final all of the county outside Cushendall were looking for.
Last year’s beaten Intermediate finalists Cloughmills made it back to this year’s decider when they edged out a highly fancied Gortnamona side by 3-12 to 1-17 in a real thriller at Casement Park. Their opponents in this year’s final will be St Paul’s who beat Tir naOg Randalstown by 1-10 to 0-10 in the other semi-final.
Cushendun Emmets and St Enda’s will meet in the Junior Hurling final after their respective semi-final wins. Cushendun came out on top by 1-14 to 2-8 after a hard fought battle with Glenravel Con Magees on Saturday evening in Ballycastle while on Sunday at Healy Park St Enda’s had just two points to spare in their 0-9 to 1-4 victory over Glenarm at Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel.
