Cushendall 0-20 Slaughtneil 2-10: Dall win record 12th Ulster Club Hurling title
- Published
Cushendall see off Slaughtneill to lift a record 12th Ulster title
Cushendall clinched a record 12th Ulster Club Hurling title after a deserved 0-20 to 2-10 win over Slaughtneil at Pairc Esler on Sunday.
After Dall led by three, Eamon Cassidy's goal helped Slaughtneil move four up before the Antrim champions hit back to lead 0-10 to 1-6 at the break.
Dall's third-quarter domination saw them go seven up before a Shea Cassidy goal helped cut the lead to three.
But with Neil McManus bringing his tally to 0-8, Dall closed out the game.
McManus was involved in a crucial battle in the contest with late Slaughtneil inclusion Chrissy McKaigue.
Cushendall made a bright start and when McManus pointed his second free in the eighth minute, it helped the Ruairi Ogs to a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage.
But Slaughtneil came roaring back, and Eamon Cassidy's goal in the 20th minute gave the Derry side a four-point advantage.
Football All-Star Shane McGuigan was a late inclusion in Slaughtneil's starting line-up
But back came Cushendall and when player of the match Ed McQuillan registered his third effort of the opening half on the stroke of half-time, it gave the Antrim men the upper-hand at the break, 0-10 to 1-6.
Cushendall continued to dominate proceedings after the break.
Scores from Ronan McAteer and Joseph McLaughlin were followed by two McManus strikes, and by the 42nd minute, Cushendall had opened up a six-point lead, 0-15 to 1-6.
Sé McGuigan eventually opened Slaughtneil's account in the 47th minute but a late comeback looked unlikely as the Ruairi Ogs responded through another McManus free and a Fergus McCambridge point.
With time against them, Slaughtneil through caution to the wind and where rewarded for their efforts with five minutes remaining when Shéa Cassidy found the back of the Cushendall net.
Shane McGuigan's point a minute later cut the Cushendall lead to four-points, but when McManus registered his eight-point of the day, it killed-off any hopes of a Slaughtneil comeback, as further points from the outstanding Scott Walsh and McLaughlin.
The Antrim champions - whose victory moved them one ahead of Dunloy's tally of 11 provincial titles - can look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final with Leinster champions Kilkenny's O'Loughlin Gaels on the weekend of 15/16 December.