Antrim SHC Quarter-Final
Ruairi Óg’s Cushendall 2-23
Ballycastle 4-13
At Pearse Park

CUSHENDALL survived one of the most extraordinary second-half comebacks of the championship to edge past Ballycastle and book their place in the last four of the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship at Pearse Park on Sunday evening.

The Ruairi Ógs looked to have the game firmly in their grasp, only for Ballycastle to produce a remarkable burst of four goals that completely turned the contest on its head and left the sides level with the finish line in sight.

Yet Cushendall showed composure when it mattered most, finding the scores required in the closing stages to finally shake off a Ballycastle side who refused to accept defeat.

They now advance to a semi-final meeting with Loughgiel Shamrocks after a quarter-final which had almost everything – seven goals, momentum swings, pressure frees and a frantic finish.

Cushendall started with purpose and quickly established a foothold, with Callagh Mooney and Ed McQuillan among those getting on the scoresheet before Joseph McLaughlin began to make his presence felt.

Ballycastle, however, delivered the first major blow of the contest when Ronan Laverty found the net in the seventh minute.

The Town suddenly had belief and began to put the Cushendall defence under pressure, but the Ruairi Óg’s responded with scores of their own.

Scott Walsh and McLaughlin kept the scoreboard moving as Cushendall attempted to build a platform, while Ballycastle continued to threaten through Conor Boyd, Cadhan Crawford and Niall McKenna.

The game remained open and competitive, with both sides willing to attack at pace.

Cushendall then struck a crucial blow before half-time when McLaughlin found the net to give his side some breathing space.

The Ruairi Óg’s took a six-point lead into the interval, but there was little indication of the drama that was about to unfold after the restart.

Mooney opened the scoring in the second half before Neil McManus added two points in quick succession as Cushendall looked intent on stamping their authority on the game.

But then the quarter-final exploded into life. Tiernan Smyth pulled a goal back for Ballycastle in the 37th minute and, before Cushendall had time to settle, Cadhan Crawford struck again. The sliotar was flicked to the net and suddenly Ballycastle were right back in the contest.

Cushendall's response was immediate. McLaughlin found the net at the other end with the next attack, restoring the Ruairi Óg’s advantage and briefly halting the Ballycastle surge. But the Town had found another gear.

Niall McKenna then smashed Ballycastle's fourth goal moments later, bringing the sides level in a breathtaking spell of hurling which saw the lead change hands almost with every attack. The momentum was now firmly with Ballycastle, but Cushendall refused to panic.

McLaughlin produced another decisive finish to the net to put his side back in front, before Ryan McCambridge and Mooney added important points. McLaughlin continued to punish Ballycastle from placed balls, but the Town remained within touching distance.

With the clock winding down, Conor Boyd reduced the gap before Darragh Kelly and McLaughlin exchanged scores.

Every Ballycastle attack now carried the threat of another goal, while Cushendall knew that one mistake could undo all their hard work.

Mooney then produced one of the scores of the night, landing a huge point to put Cushendall four clear as the game entered added time.

It was a score that looked to have finally given the Ruairi Óg’s some breathing space. Ballycastle, though, had one last push.

Crawford converted a 65 to reduce the deficit, leaving the Town needing one final opportunity to force the game beyond Cushendall.

With seconds remaining, Smyth unleashed an effort which rattled the Cushendall post.

The rebound dropped dangerously in front of goal, but this time the maroon shirts got to the sliotar first and cleared their lines.

The final whistle followed soon after, confirming Cushendall's place in the semi-finals.

For long periods they had looked comfortable, only to be dragged into a frantic shootout by a Ballycastle side who produced an extraordinary second-half response. But when the pressure reached its peak, Cushendall found the scores that mattered.

McLaughlin's finishing and accuracy from placed balls proved decisive, while Mooney, McCambridge and McManus all played their part in ensuring the Ruairi Óg’s survived the Ballycastle onslaught.

For Ballycastle, there will be plenty of frustration after coming from behind and then drawing level during that remarkable spell after half-time.

They had Cushendall on the ropes, but could not land the final blow.

They were made to work for every inch of their quarter-final victory, but after a game that swung wildly from one side to the other, it is the Ruairi Ógs who remain standing and will now turn their attention to a semi-final showdown with Loughgiel.

Ballycastle XV: E Elliot; O Kearney, C Colgan, C Donnelly, D Donnelly, C Boyd 0-1, E McAlonan; R Laverty 2-2, T Smyth 0-2; S McAuley, C Donnelly, J McGowan; C Crawford 1-2 (2F), N McKenna 1-1, N McClean.

Subs: C Boyd 0-3 on for J McCowan (45’), D Kelly 0-1 for E McAlonan (51’), A Kelly on for Ronan Laverty (40’).

Cushendall XV: C McAllister; C McCann, M Burke, F McCurry 0-1; S Walsh 0-2, A Birt, C McAuley; N McManus 0-2, C Mooney 0-5; T McLaughlin, E McQuillan 0-2, J McNaughton 0-1; F McCambridge 0-2, E Campbell, J McLaughlin 2-7 (4F).

Subs: S McAfee on for F McCambridge (40’), R McCambridge 0-1 on for E Campbell (40’), O Woolhouse on for J McLaughlin (52’).