Super performance from Cushendall. Thoroughly-deserving winners...sensational workrate in the second half! A large slice of humble pie on its way to you, Ulsterman.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 06/02/2016 15:30:09    1822849

no team deserves to be in the final than ruiari ogs, they had their hearts broken a few times before but they were not going to be stopped this time, so proud of them, well done boys and see you in croker on paddys day. Ulsterman you just don't have a clue or you are just too bitter, you should be proud of antrim hurling. even I was glad that loughgiel won and disappointed that dunloy who were a great team couldn't.

exref (Antrim) - Posts: 63 - 06/02/2016 15:32:31    1822851

Well done Ruairi og. Hope they win it now, and I think they will.
Still wouldnt begrudge either of the other two though.
Good for hurling to see an Ulster team doing well. Theyre a very under rated club.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 06/02/2016 15:40:57    1822856

Never been so delighted to have been proven so wrong. Absolutely superb Cushendall performance from start to finish and thoroughly deserved. They never let Sarsfields get into the game and you could see their confidence growing and ability coming through as the game went on. Most Antrim people will tell you it wasn't a great Championship this year and they wouldn't have given Cushendall much chance today but there you go. Always sad to see the crestfallen reaction of players who lose a game like this so you have to feel for the Sarsfields fellas. There will be some craic and atmosphere at Croker on finals day now, there's a lot of Belfast people with Glens connections and friendships so there will be a good Belfast contingent supporting them.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9703 - 06/02/2016 15:42:21    1822858

Dry yer eyes exref. Antrim hurling is at a low ebb at the minute and no one would have predicted Cushendall winning by so much. Even Ruairi Og people will tell you they didn't think it was their strongest team ever but they showed today what Antrim hurling has lacked for so long: heart, confidence and most importantly belief. I am delighted for Cushendall. I spent much of my youth in the Glens and know what a passionate, talented hurling community they are.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9703 - 06/02/2016 15:49:19    1822861

Fair play, Ulsterman.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 06/02/2016 15:52:33    1822862

Oulart 3 points up. Another shock on the cards???

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 06/02/2016 15:58:46    1822864

They are imploding now, the goal before half time seems to have rattled them. The ball into the outnumbered full forward line is bad. Jacob will a couple of handy ones too.

They are still in it though. The weather may not be great but the first touch of players on both sides with inter county experience is below par.

Cushendall seemed way more skilful and Croke park will suit them. The main thing for them is to avoid a physical battle.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 06/02/2016 16:48:41    1822875

Anyone that seen the Galway cship wouldn't have backed sarsfields against cushendall and I'd be surprised if the bookies didn't lose a few quid on it. I'll be doing well to get my double! Oulart only 1 down tho..3 to go!

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 06/02/2016 17:01:32    1822879

Gareth Sinnott took that match by the scruff of the neck. He had to too cos the two midfielders will all their experience were cleaned.

Oulart only really seemed to go for it when they looked beaten. But they have the momentum now and you'd have the back them in extra time.

Will your double pay out after extra time?

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 06/02/2016 17:09:35    1822880

Assume that double is gone out the window! Was never much more than a 50/50 game. Whatever you say about oulart...they are an experienced and tough team.
Fancy cushendall to win all Ireland...just about

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 06/02/2016 17:10:37    1822881

Tough on Oulart...they hung on til the end. Had too many wides in normal time. They probably needed to go 15 on 15 in extra-time instead of playing the sweeper. Well done NAPs.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 06/02/2016 17:56:48    1822888

So its Na Pairsaigh and Ruairi Og for the final on St Patricks Day. Cushendall belied their underdog tag in Navan when they literally hurled Sarsfields off the field in the second half, and in my opinion have at least an even money chance of success on March 17. In Thurles Oulart also nearly defied the odds before eventually going down in extra time after some battle. So its a Limerick and Antrim final with both clubs aiming for their first title.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 07/02/2016 14:36:58    1823039

I went to Navan yesterday and I though Cushendall were fantastic, Ryan McCambridge was the best player on the park...... as to the Irish indo journalist who we spoke to us before the game..... alot of humble pie.... he had not only written off ther Ruari Ogs but didn't even know anything about them...
Only negative point -took 45 minutes to get out of Navan, when realistically it was a small crowd..

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1676 - 07/02/2016 16:02:09    1823073

Cuchulainn, there was a big piece in the Indo on Saturday about Sarsfields and nothing about Cushendall at all. The Glens are as staunchly hurling as anywhere in Ireland but some people, especially certain journalists and media groups, in their ignorance and bias, won't even acknowledge this. All you see on the Coast Road in places like Watefoot and Cushendall are kids carrying hurls everywhere they go.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9703 - 07/02/2016 17:21:36    1823119

Well done Cushendall........fantastic win!!!!!

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 07/02/2016 21:13:33    1823258

Brilliant result for Cushendall and indeed Antrim hurling. Ryan McCambridge was the best hurler in both games never mind the one match, he was immense!

I must say though that the performance by Sarsfields is as poor a performance in a club semi final as I have seen.
Based on that performance I don't know how they won a match never mind the Galway Championship, they could and prob should have been beaten by 25 or 30 points.

Na Piarsaigh will be a different animal altogether and Ruairi Ógs will have a huge task on their hands to defeat them, fingers and toes are well and truly crossed though.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 08/02/2016 10:38:18    1823348

Well done to Cush I love seeing Antrim teams do well, it just goes to show something at senior level stinks because the talent is obviously there yet they can't ever make an impact for whatever reasons.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 08/02/2016 10:45:55    1823353

Fantastic result for Cushendall. For me this was the most important sport result of the weekend bar none. I'm always interested in Ireland rugby team and plenty of mileage left in the 6 Nations. Who wins the premier league in England is beyond tedious.
Can't wait for St. Patrick's Day now. Cushendall must have great belief can win the final.

sufferons (Antrim) - Posts: 12 - 08/02/2016 11:41:08    1823393

It wasnt the same Sarsfields team that turned up on Saturday that we saw in the Galway Championship this year. They were absolutely stunned by a team that was phyisically stronger, just as skillfull, and who absolutely dominated them in the air. In my view this game was won & lost under the high ball. There is no team in Galway who is that physical and accurate under the high ball. I hope that Antrim hurling can build on this and compete with the top at InterCounty. Fair play to Cushindall...

clare_sparrow (Galway) - Posts: 426 - 08/02/2016 11:51:11    1823402