All Ireland Club Hurling Championship

[INDIANA]

Don't agree would have been a shot in the arm for Cushendall and Antrim hurling. Would have been progress to get there, reagrdless of the result. NeilMc Manus is a class act, as good as anything anywhere.

[INDIANA]

The idea that it would save a hiding by losing today. Try telling the Cuhendall lads that this evening. Even to get there would be a welcome shot in the arm for antrim hurling.

[TheDoc]

IMO I think if the Cushendall V DLS match was in Thurles Cushendall would be in an AI final.

Thurles is much bigger and has a much better surface which would have suited the Cushendall lads.

[thejuice]

Only saw the 2nd half of the Cush-DLS game. Looked a hell of a game. Thought they had it but DLS showed great fighting spirit. That side-line cut was amazing. Cushendall had their chances in extra time, especially that goal chance early on. Thought your man for Cushendall was unlucky to go off, if your man was wearing a helmet, chances are wouldnt have even blown for a free.

[Minder]

IMO I think if the Cushendall V DLS match was in Thurles Cushendall would be in an AI final.

Thurles is much bigger and has a much better surface which would have suited the Cushendall lads.

How would it have suited them more?

[TheDoc]

IMO I think if the Cushendall V DLS match was in Thurles Cushendall would be in an AI final.

Thurles is much bigger and has a much better surface which would have suited the Cushendall lads.

How would it have suited them more?

More space for their forwards. Less chance of getting hooked or blocked. Looked too me that the 'Dalls forwards had the pace for the DLS backs, so a better surface would have been to their advantage.

[TheDoc]

All-Ireland club SHC: Deise men sneak past Cushendall

De La Salle (Waterford) 1-21
Cushendall (Antrim) 1-19
(After Extra-Time)

By Cóilín Duffy

First time Waterford and Munster champions De La Salle secured an All-Ireland Club SHC Final berth at the first-time of asking after an 81st minute John Mullane point ensured a two-point victory after extra-time in an epic semi-final against Antrim's Cushendall.

This Parnell Park encounter was cast in the shadows of the other semi-final in the lead up to this weekend's action - Portumna and James Stephens at Semple Stadium billed as a potential classic, yet it was De La Salle and Cushendall who provided the best wine.

End to end hurling with some fine excellent scores in a game which was allowed flow freely, and a red card for Cushendall's Declan McKillop in the 43rd minute the only dent on an otherwise spectacular encounter.

There wasn't a body left in Cushendall such was their strength in numbers from early afternoon, while a De La Salle special train provided by Iarnrod Éireann was also a sell-out. This ensured a bumper crowd at the Donnycarney venue.

And the Waterford city faithful certainly had much to shout about in the early stages with Dean Twomey setting the early tone after he bagged the opening score, a well-worked goal after four minutes to give De La Salle an early lead.

De La Salle continued to dominate possession in the opening quarter, and although they had amassed four wides before the interval, they held a deserved 1-4 to 0-4 lead by the 21st minute, with Cushendall keeping in touch through Karl McKeegan, Neil McManus and Sean Delargy.

With four minutes remaining in the opening half Twomey's early goal continued to separate the sides but De La Salle were marooned in the closing stages as a trio of points for Cushendall including a Karl McKeegan brace levelled the tie at 0-9 to 1-6 at the interval.

Tempers began to heat up a little bit on the resumption with yellow cards shown to Cushendall's McKillop and Bryan Phelan of De La Salle inside the first minute.

McKillop would see a red card 12 minutes later, but in the interim his side showed well and thanks to a fourth McKeegan point, and a 37th minute Shane McNaughton goal - the Glensmen took a 1-10 to 1-7 advantage.

But they were forced to battle bravely for the remainder of normal time as Bryan Phelan's scoring exploits from placed balls continued to yield positively for the first-time semi-finalists.

However a Neil McManus score edged Cushendall into a two-point lead with three minutes remaining, but with Daniels and Phelan on target De La Salle secured extra-time at 1-14 apiece.

Both sides continued to be well matched in the first period of extra-time as the sides traded point for point until the 66th minute before De La Salle broke away with scores from Lee Hayes and Mullane to ensure a 1-18 to 1-16 interval lead.

Cushendall responded well on the restart, outscoring their opponents by two points to one inside five minutes, but De La Salle weren't to be denied an All-Ireland final berth and a late 81st minute Mullane point secured victory.

De La Salle - S Brenner; A Kelly, I Flynn, M Doherty; D Russell, K Moran, S Daniels (0-1); B Phelan (0-6, 4f, 2sideline), C Watt; P Nevin (0-2), D McGrath (0-1), L Hayes (0-3); J Quirke (0-1), J Mullane (0-5), D Twomey (1-0). Subs: T Kearney for Quirke (40); D Greene (0-1) for Kelly (44); A Kelly for McGrath (ET); B Farrell (0-1) for Watt (67); J Foran for Hayes (80)

Cushendall - F McAuley; A Graffin (0-1), O Scullion, C Carson; D McNaughton, K Elliott, M McCambridge; K McKeegan (0-5, 4f, 1 65), P McGill (0-1); B Delargy, D McKillop, S Delargy (0-1); S McNaughton (1-1), N McManus (0-4), A Delargy (0-3). Subs: C McCambridge (0-3, 1f) for C Carson (21); C Carson for B Delargy (59); M Burke (Introduced for ET); E Laverty for S McNaughton (67); B Delargy for A Delargy (67); J Carson for Elliot (76)

Ref - Eamon Morris (Dublin)

[theskull1]

Gutted for the dall today. One that got away again. Graffin and McManus stood out throughout as did Monty who had his best performance for a year or two. The rest didn't let themselves down either, but they needed a few more big performances. DLS were no great shakes bar Phelan who makes them tick. Deccy McKillop was very unlucky to get red carded at a time when they were in the acendancy. On a personal note ...in time what a memorable day for Jackie and Conor Carson (father and son) representing their club on such a big stage

One thing that I found strange was the number of dall men going down with cramp even during normal time. What was that all about?

[fitzroyalty]

Comiserations to the Dall, didn't deserve to lose after such a mammoth effort, was talking to some of the lads from there in the last few weeks  and they've been training flat out, disappointing to see the better team losing. DLS will have it all to do in the final

[cville]

At the end of the day, I think that we in Antrim are just unlucky.. How a 60 yard cut can go over in injury time sums it up ... The Dall will be back methinks ..

[Tony Baloney]

Antrim teams just can't find the killer blow. Two points up on 60 mins and end up losers! They had enough chances to win it in normal time. I think Conor Carson made a mistake in the 60th minute when he arguably had a chance to dink one over or at least force a free to put them 3 up but instead drove towards the edge of the small square and got shepherded over the byline for no return.

[youngfella]

Really fancied ballyhale today.... But the ports were so much sharper and had the fight in them. King henry was shocking, allow he was there highest scorer, feel let down by his performance. I dont understand why he didn't take all the frees in his range. The Joe show was awesome didn't put a foot or hurl outplace, he had great awareness of his space and his team mates. Put henry on his hole in the bargain, cant see many no. 14 tracking back inside there own 45, Great display by the young man. At the risk of sounding daft, It would be interesting to see how the ports would get on at intercounty level, there is so much understanding between there players, throwing a galway kit of them might not be a terrible thing.

In the other game i fancied a tight affair. The Dall played well allow were a bit linear in there forward play, everything seem to be work through the wonderful MC manus, What a great hurler! IMO he was as good as Joe today. The dall are still a very young team and ones to watch out for in coming years. The dall played for a long period with only one man, its a testament to them that this were hardly noticeable. La salle, played well and keep the scoreboard ticking over, Mullane seemed to ghost in and out of the game at periods, however there midfield made up for this very solid. Credit must go the ref in this game he called it fair and down the middle.

Really enjoyed both games, a great advert for hurling.

Ports will be unbackable in the final and for reason. The Joe show continues.

[ONeill]

One thing that I found strange was the number of dall men going down with cramp even during normal time. What was that all about?

Yep, that was very noticable.

I think Conor Carson made a mistake in the 60th minute when he arguably had a chance to dink one over or at least force a free to put them 3 up but instead drove towards the edge of the small square and got shepherded over the byline for no return.

Again, that was crucial. A wee bit of inexperience there. The da would've made sure it was the winning move.

[TheDoc]

From the official GAA website:

De La Salle through in extra-time

De La Salle advanced to the All-Ireland Club Hurling Final with a 1-21 to 1-19 extra-time win over Cushendall at Parnell Park on Sunday.

Cushendall had looked set to break their semi-final hoodoo as they led for the entire second-half of the game but a late rally from the Waterford side sent the game to extra-time, where De La Salle just did enough.

De La Salle began brightly and the first score of the game was a goal, Paidi Nevin finding the net with a smart finish after a superb assist from Dean Twomey.

The Waterford champions looked like they might run away with things in the opening surges but Cushendall fought back, with centre-back Aaron Graffin rising to the challenge as he put over the Antrim side's first score, an inspirational effort after a rangy run.

Lee Hayes was in stirring form for De La Salle in the first half, two fine points his contribution, while Aidan Delargy kept Cushendall in touch with two excellent efforts of his own with Neil McManus also adding an excellent post-splitter. Indeed, McManus was exceptional throughout, popping up all over the pitch.

Graffin had the better of Waterford star John Mullane in the first half and his suffocating display was exemplified by an incredible block on the forward when he looked set to blast to the net midway through the first half.

It was 1-6 to 0-9 at half-time and both sides exchanged scores after the break, but Cushendall took control of the game when Shane Naughton netted after Stevie Brennan saved McManus' ripping shot.

This put the Antrim men three points ahead and they were able to preserve this lead despite the dismissal of Declan McKillop for a hook midway through the second half.

De La Salle began to create more chances as the extra man made a difference but they squandered them, and a run of four wides left them in a precarious position as full-time loomed.

Going into injury-time, Cushendall led by two but De La Salle somehow rescued a draw when Bryan Phelan sent over a wondrous sideline cut from 45 metres.

And in extra-time, the Waterford champions just had that bit too much for Cushendall, whose record in All-Ireland Club semi-finals now reads a grim eight losses from eight matches.

Mullance came to the fore in the extra period, and although Cushendall got close in snatches in the final reckoning, points from Mullane and Phelan put De La Salle though to face Portumna on St. Patrick's Day.

[youngfella]

Was that you ya eejit