The Emmets do themselves proud

Cushendun 3-25 Carey 3-21 (aet)

Cushendun went into this Antrim Intermediate hurling championship with an enormous weight on their shoulders and came out the other end champions. They bridged a nineteen year gap on Saturday afternoon in Ballycastle. winning the Antrim Intermediate hurling crown for the fourth time in their history.

Already over the first hurdle at Ulster level through nomination they wanted, more than anything, to justify their position there and so fierce was this battle that it took extra time to separate the sides as Carey pushed the Emmet’s to their limits and beyond in a breath taking final.

Luck was with the Emmets and not so kind to Carey but it was Cushendun who produced the goods in extra time however and their greater scoring threat throughout their team gave them an edge.

There was was a helter skelter start to this final and it never let up until the half time whistle. Both sides found the back of the net in the opening four minutes with Pearse McKeegan raising the green flag for the Emmet’s after a scramble in the goal mouth while Fiachra McVeigh intercepted a pass before hammering to the back of John V Morgan’s goal.

Cushendun were wasteful in front of the target in that opening quarter while Carey pulled away and held a three point lead after ten minutes, Hunter and Patrick Gillan prominent for the Faughs.

Fiachra McVeigh’s second goal came in the sixteenth minute to put five between the sides and it was a throw back to the hurling golden years of first time hurling. Callum Kane pulled first time to send the sliotar into the danger area where McVeigh double to the back of the net.

Cushendun hit back with their second goal three minutes later when Fiontan McQuillan scrambling the sliotar over the line after a brilliant run through the heart of the Carey defence by the marauding Calum Kilgore.

The Kilgore brothers calum and Harry added points to bring the sides level by the twenty third minute only to see Carey and McVeigh score their third goal. Conlith McKinley sent the sliotar long where Fiachra McVeigh got something on the sliotar and the power on the strike and bounce off the astro turf was enough for the sliotar to hit the back of the net.

Cushendun found an answer once again however with Harry Kilgore scoring their third major. Sean McKay’s effort for a point dropped short and the Carey defence failed to clear their lines, Harry Kilgore reacted fastest to find the back of the net with twenty eight minutes gone.

The sides exchanged further scores with Caolan McCaughan firing over for Carey while Calum Kilgore and McHugh responded for the Emmet’s to leave the sides tied at three goals and eight point each at the break after thirty plus minutes of brilliant high scoring play with neither side deserving to lose.

The second half started at the same frenetic pace with Patrick Butler and Patrick Gillan firing over either side of Sean McKay’s first point of the final.

McKay and McHugh then both split the uprights to restore parity to the sides by the with twelve minutes gone and while the scoring slowed, the excitement levels never dipped. Both sides put their bodies on the line and doing whatever it took for their team and parish. It was an incredible display of passion from both sides and neither took a backward step.

Cushendun looked like they might have the edge in the final quarter of the hour with Sean McKay’s influence becoming more prevalent. He was beginning to dominate the middle third with McHugh and the Emmet’s took a three point lead going into the closing stages.

It was Carey’s time to hit back however with Shea Hunter sending the sliotar over the crossbar twice before Patrick Gillan’s tenth pointof the contest tied the scores again with the last puck of the hour.

With the game going into extra time, both sides looked dead on their feet. This was a gruelling contest and both sides were pushed to extreme physical limits, but as the game restarted, it looked like the Emmet’s had the upper hand.

McHugh split the posts either side of a point from Fiachra McVeigh while a couple more points, either side of a of a Patrick Gillan effort, left two between the teams at the half way mark of extra time.

That two point lead was gone inside two minutes of the restart when a couple of converted frees from Patrick Gillan restored parity but the Faugh’s failed to score again in the eight minutes of time that remained.

McHugh landed a couple more Cushendun points from frees while Harry Kilgore took his personal tally to a goal and four for the final and ensure the Emmet’s were celebrating at the final whistle.

On a day where heroes were made, Cushendun had plenty. Conor McHugh turned in a performance for the ages while Calum and Harry Kigore were outstanding. Yet, it was Sean McKay who took the player of the match honours. In truth, that accolade could have gone to any number of five players. The Emmet’s certainly produced their best performance of the championship for when it mattered most completing the event unbeaten.

Carey certainly played their part in a game of hurling that had everyone hooked. At different times it looked like the Faughs were going to pull away with Fiachra McVeigh scoring a first half hat trick, Shea Hunter put on an exhibition and Patrick Gillan proved unmarkable throughout.

Lady luck certainly didn't shine on the Ballyvoy side as they were dealt a number of severe blows throughout the game. James Black’s game wascut short in first half injury time while they were into their third goal keeper before the final whistle ,Steven McGinn and Charlie McAuley having to come off with injuries while Christopher Butler had to step into the breach.

This was an enthralling contest and a truly epic final. Both sides played their part in this showpiece final for the Intermediate title and gave everything they had for their club and parish.

Cushendun had that enormous burden they carried into the game lifted and celebration were limited as they now turn their eyes to an Ulster semi final against the Armagh champions Keady at the weekend.

Teams and scorers; Cushendun: John V Morgan; Mark McSparran, Archie McSparran, Pearse McKeegan (1-0); Jack McKay, Donal O’Hara, Shane McQuillan; Callum Kilgore (0-6), Thomas Scally (0-1); Harry Kilgore (1-4), Conor McHugh (0-9), Paddy Morgan; Fiontan McQuillan (1-1), Sean McKay (0-3), Matthew McCartin

Replacements: Donncha Laverty (0-1)

Carey : Steven McGinn; Zach McCaughan, Sean McBride, Oisin Healy; Peadar McVeigh, John McBride, Conlith McKinley (0-1); Cathair Brogan, James Black; Callum Kane (0-1), Caolan McCaughan (0-1), Shea Hunter (0-4); Fiachra McVeigh (3-1), Patrick Butler (0-1), Patrick Gillan (0-12)

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Hannastown