Cushendall all but home in league race

CUSHENDALL have almost certainly edged out Loughgiel to land the Antrim Senior Hurling League title over the weekend.

Brian Delargy’s side were 2-23 to 3-14 winners over St John’s in Corrigan Park at the weekend to give them a boost heading into the championship.

Despite missing Neil McManus, the ‘Dall came through a pulsating game thanks to goals from Andrew Delargy and Paddy Burke while Paddy McGill landed eight points.

Cushendall were 1-11 to 1-9 ahead at half-time before the home side hit second-half goals from Conall Bohill and Oisín MacManus – who finished with 1-9.

McGill and Burke had Cushendall back in front before Delargy’s late goal.

Mathematically, the Shamrocks can catch them but they’d need an unlikely 50-point winning margin in their final game with Rossa on Sunday.

It was the league game between the clubs last month that defined the league run-in. Despite a Fergus McCambridge goal for the ‘Dall, Loughgiel were well in the game with eight players sharing their 21-points tally.

Loughgiel were ahead until a late equaliser from Joseph McNaughton ensured the sides finished level.

Cushendall backed up the draw with wins over Dunloy and Rossa before Sunday’s win in Belfast sealed the deal.

Dunloy were 2-28 to 0-14 winners over Rossa at the weekend in a dead rubber with neither side in the title race.

Conall Cunning was on form for Dunloy with his goal helping the visitors to a 1-15 to 0-9 interval lead at Rossa Park.

Michael Armstrong, Gerard Walsh and Aidan O’Brien were among the Rossa scorers but Cunning’s 1-10 tally always kept Dunloy in the driving seat.

A goal from Nicky McKeague was the icing on the cake and keeps Dunloy’s name at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts with the championship around the corner.