Twelfth Ulster title for Cushendall as they overcome Slaughtneil
TWELFTH TITLE: Cushendall’s Neil McManus celebrates with the cup. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Cushendall shot their way to a twelfth Ulster title with victory over Slaughtneil on Sunday in Páirc Esler.
They were deserving winners on the day and winning manager Brian Delargy placed it as his side’s best performance of the year and it sets up an All-Ireland clash with O’Loughlin Gaels in two weeks’ time.
Aside from a spell when the Emmet’s hit 1-4 without replay in the middle the first half, it was a comfortable path for the Antrim champions.
Shea Cassidy’s goal with five minutes to go and a Shane McGuigan point brought the game back to the puck of a ball before Cushendall closed it out with points from Scott Walsh and teenage star Joe McLaughlin.
“I am really proud of the boys, they probably put in their best performance of the year,” said Delargy, referencing spells in the Antrim championship when they blew teams away without pulling together a full 60-minute performance.
“Today we did (play for 60 minutes) and we knew it was going to take it against Slaughtneil,” he said.
“We spoke at half time about what we had got right and what we had got wrong.
“Slaughtneil were very good at shutting us down in the middle third. We changed that up at half time.
“I think our ten or 15 minutes after half time, when we held them scoreless, we seemed to drive on from there and that was probably the winning spell.” Neil McManus landed eight points in all with Ed McQuillan hitting four from play and Ryan McCambridge covering every blade of grass.
It was Eoghan Campbell who opened the scoring for the ‘Dall who were on top in most departments.
The Emmet’s were struggling to snap up possession and it was a Cushendall jersey that closed down any breaks from the back.
Two Neil McManus frees and a score from the lively McQuillan shot Brian Delargy’s charges into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes.
Brendan Rogers for away from his marker Paddy Burke to land a sweet score from the wing to begin the Slaughtneil fightback. Mark McGuigan was on target as the sides were level at 0-4 each.
The game took its first turn in the 20th minute when Eoghan Campbell gave away possession. Cormac O’Doherty robbed and Shane McGuigan played in Eamon Cassidy. With the overlap on for another pass, he took on the shot to the bottom corner.
Cushendall replied well with Ronan McAteer, McQuillan and Joe McLaughlin had the sides level again. It was a McQuillan who grabbed a third point to put Cushendall 0-10 to 1-6 ahead at the break.
The ‘Dall began the second half in similar commanding form and held Slaughtneil scoreless for 20 minutes.
The Emmet’s had an early half chance for goal fluffed and when Joe McLaughlin pointed at the other end, Cushendall moved through the gears again.
Ed McQuillan blasted over with a goal for the taking to open a 0-14 to 1-6 lead.
It was a point from Sé McGuigan that ended the Slaughtneil drought with Oisin O’Doherty denying Joe McLaughlin a goal at the other end.
With five minutes to go, Slaughtneil were handed a passport back into the game. Shane McGuigan’s angled ball found Shea Cassidy. After a moment of wizardry, he tucked the ball to the net.
Shane McGuigan added a point and the Derry champions were back in touch, 2-8 to 0-17.
It was Cushendall who finished strong again with points from Scott Walsh and McLaughlin to seal victory.
Slaughtneil had one final chance of goal but Cormac O’Doherty’s close range free was saved by ‘keeper Conor McAllister to cap off their victory.
Losing manager Michael McShane said wouldn’t be drawn on his future after nine seasons at Emmet Park and had no complaints.
“The best team won on the day, without a shadow of a doubt,” he said. “We got everything from Cushendall that we were expecting.
“They are a phenomenal team and they brought their best performance of the season to Páirc Esler today and they knew they had to. Some days you have to tip your hat to the other team.”
: N McManus 0-8 (36, 1 65), E McQuillan 0-4, J McLaughlin 0-3, R McAteer 0-2, E Campbell, F McCambridge and S Walsh 0-1 each
: C O’Doherty 0-4f, Shea Cassidy, E Cassidy 1-0 each, Shane McGuigan 0-2, Sé McGuigan, B Rogers, P McCullagh and M McGuigan 0-1 each
: C McAllister; P Burke, L Gillan, M Burke; S Walsh, E Campbell, R McCollam; F McCurry, R McCambridge; R McAteer, N McManus F McCambridge; E McQuillan, N McCormack, J McLaughlin
: A Delargy for N McCormack (49)
P Burke (15), F McCurry (63)
O O’Doherty; P McNeill, Sean Cassidy, Shane McGuigan; C McKaigue, R Ó Mianáin, M McGrath; J Cassidy, B Rogers; G Bradley, M McGuigan, E Cassidy; Sé McGuigan, C O’Doherty, K McKaigue
: Shea Cassidy for G Bradley (INJ 17), J McGuigan for E Cassidy (41), P McCullagh for M McGuigan (49)
: M McGrath (29), E Cassidy (40), C McKaigue (57)
: 3,462
: J Clarke (Cavan)
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