Ulster Intermediate Hurling Semi-Final
Cushendun 0-17
Keady 0-17 (Keady win 2-1 on penalties)
At Ballinascreen

IT was the Armagh champions Keady Lámh Dhearg who booked their place in the Ulster Intermediate Hurling final following a remarkable contest against Cushendun, eventually prevailing in a penalty shootout after the sides could not be separated following extra-time.

The Armagh champions had to withstand a tremendous second-half comeback from the Glensmen before goalkeeper Ruairi Fullerton emerged as the hero, producing two crucial saves and converting his own penalty to secure victory in a dramatic conclusion to an enthralling afternoon at Ballinascreen.

There was little between the sides throughout normal time, with Keady enjoying the better of the opening exchanges and making good use of the breeze at their backs to establish a three-point advantage at the break.

Conor Corvan opened the scoring from a free before Conor McHugh responded for Cushendun with a superb sideline cut.

Shea Harvey produced an equally impressive effort from the sideline at the other end, while Connlaoth McNeill, returning to the Cushendun starting XV, kept the scoreboard ticking over with a free.

Keady began to find their rhythm and Corvan was proving increasingly influential, with his accuracy from placed balls providing a reliable source of scores. Oisin Keenan and John Corvan also contributed from distance as the Armagh champions looked to make their territorial advantage count.

Sean McKay responded with an important score for the Robert Emmet's, while McNeill added further frees to keep his side within touching distance.

However, Corvan continued to punish Cushendun's indiscretions, landing another couple of excellent efforts to ensure Keady went in at the interval holding a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage.

Cushendun needed a positive start to the second half and McNeill provided exactly that, landing a tremendous free from inside his own half before adding another to reduce the deficit to a single point.

Corvan settled Keady with his first score of the half before Dylan McKenna added another, and when Corvan landed a superb 65, the Armagh side appeared to have regained control with a four-point cushion.

The Keady number eight was becoming increasingly difficult to contain, and another monster strike from distance underlined his influence on proceedings. However, Cushendun refused to surrender and began to find another gear as they chased down their opponents.

Thomas Scally responded before Jack McKay and Sean McKay both found the target to bring the Glensmen back into the contest. The pressure was mounting on Keady and McNeill's massive free in the 59th minute reduced the deficit to a single score.

Corvan again answered the call with an excellent response, but Conor Bannon kept Cushendun's hopes alive with a fine point.

The defining moment of normal time arrived deep into stoppage time when McNeill stepped forward to land a magnificent 65, bringing the sides level at 0-17 apiece and forcing extra-time.

Having fought their way back from four points down, Cushendun carried that momentum into the additional period and finally moved in front for the first time when Callum Kilgore pointed.

Harry Kilgore followed with another excellent effort to put the Glensmen two ahead, and when McNeill converted another free, the advantage had stretched to three. Cushendun were beginning to look the more likely winners, but Keady had no intention of allowing their provincial campaign to end.

Corvan, who had been outstanding throughout, landed his tenth score of the afternoon to bring his side back into contention before Paddy Morgan restored Cushendun's three-point advantage.

Daire Harvey reduced the gap before Corvan struck again, leaving just a single point between the teams at the interval in extra-time.

The tension continued to build as the second period unfolded. Corvan brought Keady level with another outstanding effort, completing a remarkable individual contribution and leaving both sides facing another battle to find a winner.

Neither could find the decisive score and, with the teams locked together at the end of extra-time, penalties would ultimately decide who progressed to the Ulster final.

It was a cruel way for either side to see their provincial ambitions end after such a fiercely contested encounter, but Keady held their nerve when it mattered most.

Goalkeeper Ruairi Fullerton became the unlikely match-winner, producing two crucial saves in the shootout before stepping forward to convert a penalty himself.

His heroics ensured Keady emerged with a 2-1 victory in the shootout and booked their place in the provincial decider after a contest that had provided drama right to the very end.

Cushendun XV: J Morgan; M McSparran, A McSparran, P McKeegan; J McKay 0-1, D O’Hara, F McQuillan; C Kilgore 0-1, T Scally 0-1; H Kilgore 0-1, C McHugh 0-1, C McNeill 0-8 (8F); P Morgan 0-1, S McKay 0-2, M McCartin

Subs: Conor Bannon 0-1 on for Fiontann McQuillan (59’); Donncha Laverty on for Thomas Scally (55’)

Keady XV: R Fullerton; J Molloy, D Corvan, B Molloy; D Harvey 0-1, O Keenan 0-1, B Shortt; C Corvan 0-12 (11F), J Shortt; S Harvey 0-1, M Toal, J Loughran; O Fullerton, J Corvan 0-1, S Renaghan 0-1

Subs: Dylan McKenna on for John Corvan (53’), Martin Hughes on for Oisin Keenan; Connor Renaghan on for Marc Toal (48’)