Mahers keep Loughrea dream alive

All-Ireland Club HC Semi-finals/Loughrea 1-11 Cushendall 0-9:On the day Croke Park took a giant leap in historical terms, two hurling clubs were trying to take a small step of their own. Neither Loughrea nor Cushendall had previously made the All-Ireland final on St Patrick's Day, which essentially meant they were playing in the drizzle of Mullingar simply to earn their day in Croke Park.

Given the high stakes the game was fittingly close, Loughrea holding on to a three-point advantage as the clock ticked out. Cushendall never backed down and chased hard for the goal that could finally turn the game in their favour, and they did not lack chances.

When the goal that decided the issue did come, however, it was for Loughrea, and it proved joyous and cruel in equal measure. The Galway champions recently collected their first county title since 1941, and they now get a shot at the biggest prize in club hurling when they face Kilkenny's Ballyhale Shamrocks in just under five weeks' time.

For Cushendall, the heartbreak went beyond this loss. It was the sixth time the Antrim champions contested an All-Ireland semi-final - plus one replay - and they wore the will to make the final this time on their sleeve. Such desire kept them in it, yet in the end they lost out to the marginally superior skill of Loughrea.

Nowhere was that skill more evident than in centre forward Johnny Maher, who ended with 0-7, although it was his brother Vinnie who provided the biggest cheer for the Loughrea supporters when he popped in the decisive goal, just as the game entered injury time.

The only possible dispute about it was whether Maher meant it. Kenneth Colleran had slipped the ball at pace and as Maher raced on to the 20-metre line he chipped the sliotar toward goal, and it dropped cleanly into the top, right-hand corner of the net.

Planned or not, it was a spectacular way to seal the victory.

It was also one of the high points in a game dominated by rugged and sometimes crude hurling, perhaps brought on by nerves. Cushendall ended up with 11 wides and if even a few of those had been converted the result could have been different.

Defensively they were impressive, especially full back Oran Scullion and Seán Delargy alongside, but ultimately that's not where games are won.

Aidan Delargy did shine in spells and hit two fine points early in the second half to reduce the half-time deficit (0-7 to 0-3) to just two points.

With typical Ulster grit, they were making it difficult for Loughrea to settle - and especially to get it into their full-forward line, who were held scoreless.

Cushendall also had big men through the field, which reduced space, and midfielder Neil McManus spread their possession well. Their problem was that Loughrea were able to score from long-range; two of Johnny Maher's three frees were fired over from well inside his own half. He also pointed two 65s and a sweet sideline cut that allowed Loughrea keep their noses in front. Substitute Michael Haverty chipped in with a nice score when the pressure came on in the second half, and midfielders Gavin Keary and Brian Mahony did likewise either side of half-time.

Cushendall still deserve great credit for ensuring the game boiled down to such a frantic climax.

The score was 0-2 each after five minutes, but Cushendall then went 25 minutes without a score - allowing Loughrea to pull five points clear.

Conor McCambridge ended that dry run just before half-time, but that lack of consistency would haunt them.

When Donal McNaughton closed it to a three-point game, 0-10 to 0-7, on 49 minutes, visions of Croke Park were still flashing before both teams. Cushendall were applying goal pressure, helped on by their burly substitute John Carson, but Loughrea held out during those critical final 10 minutes.

Johnny Maher scored again from play to add further pressure to the Antrim team, and when the goal did come, at the other end, it was a blow from which they could never recover.

McCambridge had time for one more point, and then it was game over.

Anyone from Ballyhale watching would hardly have been sweating too much at the prospect of meeting the Galway side, but then semi-finals are often about grinding out a result. Loughrea certainly did that here, and having booked their first ticket to Croke Park they have little to lose.

LOUGHREA (GALWAY): N Murray; T Regan, D McClearn, D Melia; J Dooley (0-1), N Shaughnessy, G Kennedy; G Keary (0-1), B Mahony (0-1); E Coen, J Maher (0-7, three frees, one 65m, one sideline), V Maher (1-0); R Regan, J Loughlin, K Colleran. Subs: M Haverty (0-1) for Coen (38 mins), K Daniels for R Regan (55 mins).

CUSHENDALL (ANTRIM): R Kearney; A Griffin, O Scullion, S Delargy; K Elliott, K McKeegan (0-1, a free), D McNaughton (0-1); D McKillop N McManus; B Delargy, M McCambridge, P McGill; S McNaughton, C McCambridge (0-4, two frees, one 65), A Delargy (0-3). Subs: E McKillop for B Delargy (half-time), J Carson for D McKillop (49 mins), E McNaughton for McGill, B McNaughton for S McNaughton (both 55 mins).

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).