THE final weekend of the Intermediate Hurling Championship did not disappoint with the top spot in each group being sealed by Cushendun and Creggan after dramatic final battles with their direct rivals for pole position.
The Belfast clubs, St Gall's and St Paul's, both earned a spot in the knockouts after huge must-wins in their final games ahead of the group stage wrapping up for the 2026 campaign.
IHC - Group One
Clooney Gaels 2-22 Glenravel 2-16
Clooney Gaels kept their Intermediate Championship hopes alive with a six-point victory over Con Magees in a hugely entertaining encounter on Friday evening at Dunsilly.
Although Saturday's result at Hightown spelled the end of the Clooney men's campaign, Clooney made the stronger start, with James O’Connell finding the net inside two minutes before Colla McDonnell added points from frees. Con Magees gradually settled, with Cormac McKeown leading their response from placed balls and open play.
A scoring burst from Clooney Gaels saw them register six unanswered points, giving them valuable breathing room before McKeown’s deflected goal brought Con Magees back into contention. Clooney responded through McDonnell and O’Connell to lead 1-12 to 1-8 at half-time.
Con Magees came flying out after the restart, with Conor Duffin finding the net before McKeown added two points to briefly put Glenravel ahead. However, Clooney immediately regained control when Colla McDonnell fired home their second goal.
The sides continued to trade scores with Con Magees reducing the deficit to just two points with nine minutes remaining. Clooney Gaels then showed their composure, with McDonnell converting crucial frees and O’Connell adding further scores.
St Paul's 5-20 Tír na nÓg 4-08
St Paul’s booked their place in the next phase of the Intermediate Hurling Championship after overcoming Tír na nÓg Randalstown in a thrilling nine-goal encounter.
The Shaws Road side made a flying start with Caolán Ó Duibhfhinn opening the scoring before Seán Óg McLaren found the net inside two minutes. Further points from Shea Burns and Stephen Rooney helped St Paul’s establish early control, but Tír na nÓg responded with scores from Oliver McAtamney and Eamon Óg McAllister.
The visitors then produced two quick goals from McAllister and Seán Duffin to move back into contention. St Paul’s regained their composure, with McLaren adding his second goal while Conal Finnegan, Seán Munce and Ó Duibhfhinn helped the hosts lead 3-10 to 3-3 at half-time.
Tír na nÓg mounted a strong second-half comeback, with Ciarán Logan and Joe McCormick reducing the deficit before goalkeeper Kevin Sheerin scored a dramatic free to leave just two points between the teams.
However, St Paul’s showed their quality when it mattered.
Substitute James McDonnell made a major impact with four points, while Caolan Crossan’s goal restored their cushion. Odhrán Donnelly then sealed the win with a late goal as St Paul’s ran out big winners.
Glenarm 1-16 Cushendun 1-16
Cushendun snatched a dramatic draw with Glenarm thanks to Connlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill's last-gasp equaliser and earned his side top spot and a semi-final berth.
Glenarm dominated much of the opening half, making excellent use of the breeze and building an impressive 1-09 to 0-07 lead at the interval. Dylan McLoughlin’s early goal provided the platform, while Niall McGarel, Niall Rodgers and Ciaran Magill all contributed valuable scores.
Cushendun struggled to contain Glenarm’s attacking threat but stayed within reach thanks to the accurate free-taking of Connlaoth McNeill, along with scores from Thomas Scally, Fiontan McQuillan and Archie McSparran.
Glenarm continued to control proceedings after the restart, stretching their lead to eight points as McGarel produced an outstanding display from frees and open play. Cushendun, however, refused to surrender and gradually chipped away at the deficit through Jack McKay and Conor McHugh.
The decisive moment came late on when substitute Pearse McKeegan found the net following excellent advantage play, cutting the gap to two points. McKeegan then added another score before McNeill converted a crucial ’65.
With the final attack, Cushendun found the equaliser in injury time to complete a remarkable comeback. The result sees Cushendun finish as group winners, while Glenarm advance as runners-up.
IHC - Group Two
Carey Faugh's 2-15 Creggan Kickhams 3-15
Creggan Kickhams secured a dramatic victory over Carey Faughs at Ballyvoy to book their place directly in the Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-finals, with Carey progressing to the semi-finals after topping the group.
Carey made the brighter start through an early Paddy Butler free, but Creggan responded immediately. Morgan Nelson levelled before producing the game’s defining moment, latching onto Thomas McCann’s pass and firing a superb finish into the Carey net.
Nelson continued to influence the contest as Creggan established a narrow advantage, while Carey remained within touching distance thanks to Butler, Shay Hunter and Caolan McCaughan. Creggan led at the break and increased their advantage after half-time through Nelson, Conor McCann and Kevin Rice.
The game was halted for around eight minutes following a serious-looking knee injury to Carey’s Conal McGlynn, requiring him to leave the field on a stretcher.
Carey refused to surrender, with Butler and James “Rocket” Black keeping the Faughs in contention. Black then found the net from a 20-metre free to reduce the deficit to just two points.
However, Creggan immediately responded through Kevin Rice, restoring their five-point cushion. Carey battled until the end but could only reduce the gap to three points.
Creggan’s defence held firm in the closing stages, securing a crucial victory but the automatic semi-final qualification went to Carey after some mental arithmetic.
St Gall’s 0-24 Cloughmills 1-13
Both sides knew victory would guarantee progression, but it was the Milltown men who produced the greater attacking threat, eventually running out eleven-point winners.
St Gall’s made a bright start, with Tomas Ó Ciarain landing two long-range points inside the opening two minutes, while Cloughmills goalkeeper Christopher McKernan produced an excellent early save to deny a close-range effort.
Cloughmills responded through a fine sideline cut from Mickey Devlin and a score from James Doherty, with Michael Devlin proving particularly influential from placed balls.
St Gall's proved too strong as they clinched a third win and a quarter-final
The visitors began to find their rhythm, however, with Mark Napier and Dubhaltach Wilson both striking impressive scores from difficult angles.
Cloughmills then landed a major blow when Stephen Smyth found the net after 20 minutes, but St Gall’s finished the half strongly to lead 0-13 to 1-7 at the interval.
Napier immediately extended the advantage after the restart before substitute Aodán Gallagher also got on the scoresheet.
Devlin continued to battle for Cloughmills, including a huge free from his own 65, but St Gall’s remained in control.
The decisive moment arrived when Cloughmills were reduced to 14 men following a straight red card. St Gall’s exploited the extra space with Wilson and Napier adding further scores as the gap widened.
Cormac Sheehan added a late point as St Gall’s completed a comprehensive eight-point victory and booked their quarter-final place.
