Ballygalget surrendered their AIB Ulster hurling title to a slicker Cushendall at Casement Park yesterday. In fact, the final tally flattered the losers who snatched a goal in the two minutes of extra-time played through Barry Coulter.
During the first half, played in driving rain, Cushendall controlled matters firmly. They played with a strong wind at their backs and were 0-9 to 0-4 ahead at the break. John Carson was in fine form in front of goals and notched three points.
That left the winners 0-4 to 0-2 ahead and for the next 12 minutes it was one-way traffic as the Antrim titleholders hit four more points without replay.
During the second half the Down champions did come more into the hunt with Tom Coulter keeping them in touch with pointed frees, but a goal from Cushendall's Carson was the nail in Ballygalet's coffin.
CUSHENDALL: C McNaughton; C McAlister, A McAteer, Ciaran McCambridge; Michael McCambridge, R McNaughton, F McAlister; Mark McCambridge, C Elliott; K McKeegan (0-2), D McKillop (0-1), Conor McCambridge (0-4); B McNaughton (0-1), J Carson (1-4), A Delargy. Subs: T McNaughton for Conor (48 mins); McCambridge (56 mins), D McNaughton for F McAlister (60 mins).
BALLYGALGET: Graham Clarke; L Clarke, P Braniff, E Doran; Gabriel Clarke, Paul Coulter, M Pucci; Tom Coulter (0-5), P Monan; C McGrattan (0-1), B Coulter (1-0), B Gallagher; Martin Coulter jun., B Smyth (0-2), Paddy Coulter. Subs: L Coulter for Gabriel Clarke (19 mins); J McGrattan for Paddy Coulter (36 mins); C Coulter for C McGrattan (48 mins).
Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)