No joy for Sean MacCumhaills as Cushendall soar to Ulster Minor Hurling title

Sean MacCumhaills were no match for an impressive Cushendall side in the Ulster Minor Hurling final in Ballinascreen.

It took just a minute for the Antrim champions to hit the net through Fionnan Bradley, and by the time MacCumhaills registered a first score on ten minutes, they were six down.

And while Fionn Mac an Ultaigh saved a penalty from Thomas McLaughlin, it was Cushendall who dominated the opening half, leading 1-10 to 0-2 at the break.

Further second-half goals from Ryan McAuley and Bradley, along with good scoring from Fintan McKillop, who ended with six points, made it even more convincing in the end.

Fiontan Bradley gave his side a dream start as he fired low into the net on 25 seconds after picking up a ball in from Nicholas McLaughlin, while Connloadh McNaughton, Thomas McLaughlin, Bradley, and Cahir McCambridge added further points.

Daimhin Byrne opened the account for the Donegal champions, and as Bradley won a penalty for Cushendall, Thomas McLaughlin went down the middle, but Mac an Ultaigh kept his effort out.

But that didn’t deter them and Nicholas McLaughlin, Fintan McKillop, and Bradley added further points.

McCambridge got his second point as Dylan Patton’s free got a second score for MacCumhaills, but Callagh Mooney replied instantly.

And substitute McKillop got his second for a 1-10 to 0-2 lead at the break.

It was a bit more of the same after the restart, a first score ending up in the MacCumhaills net as McCambridge ran through on the right and found Ryan McAuley, who rifled the ball into the bottom corner.

Dan Donnelly fired over a free from distance, but McKillop added a third score of his just before Sean Óg Hannigan was sent off for the Donegal men.

And Cushendall powered on after this with two scores from McKillop in between Bradley and McQuillan’s points.

Donnelly fired over another free for the Donegal men, but points from Player of the Match McKillop and Nicholas McLaughlin, along with a great solo goal from Bradley, made it a convincing scoreline for the Antrim men.

Ruairí Óg, Cushendall scorers: Fiontan Bradley 2-3; Fintan McKillop 0-6; Ryan McAuley 1-0; Cahir McCambridge and Nicholas McLaughlin 0-2 each; Connloadh McNaughton, Thomas McLaughlin, Callagh Mooney and Shane MQuillan 0-1 each. 

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Dan Donnelly 0-2,2f; Dylan Patton 0-1f; Daimhin Byrne 0-1. 

Ruairí Óg, Cushendall: Shane Coulter; Paddy Morgan, Conor McCann, Brian McNeill; Alex McCambridge, Callagh Mooney, Aodhán Campbell; Thomas McLaughlin, Nicholas McLaughlin; Shane McQuillan, Connloadh McNaughton, Ryan McAuley; Cahir McCambridge, Dáire Higgins. 

Subs: Fintan McKillop for McNeill (4), Diarmuid McManus for McQuillan (51), Sean Pol McNaughton for McAuley (55), Calum Quinn and Calum Magee for C McCambridge and Campbell (59).

Sean MacCumhaills: Fionn Mac an Ultaigh; Ultán Coyle, Shay Bradley, Adam Byrne; Patrick McElhinney, Oisin Mullen, Lorcan Byrne; Pauric Kelly, Tomas McNulty; Rory Doherty, Daniel Donnelly, Jamie Gallen; Dylan Patton, Jacob Malone, Daimhin Byrne.

Subs: Sean Óg Hannigan for A Byrne (27), Matthew Dowds for J Gallen (41), Shay McNulty for R Doherty (45), Ultan Ó Giollagáin for L Byrne (48), Liam Gallen for D Patton (51), Conor Gallen, Jamie Fallon and Fritz Mac an Ultaigh for Coyle, McElhinney and T McNulty (59).

Referee: Sean Curran (Derry)