u-21 hurling in rude health

Cushendall's Sean McAfee

CUSHENDALL u-21 manager Ciaran Kearney believes that the future of Antrim club hurling is in good health, going on the standard of this year’s u-21 competition.

Cushendall meet Ballycastle in this weekend’s final having seen off St Kevin’s, the amalgamation of Armoy, Carey and Cloughmills, in the semi-final.

Ballycastle beat last year’s winners Loughgiel. At the start there were 11 teams involved, although St Paul’s conceded their game to Cushendall in round one.

“It has been unfortunate that a lot of the games have clashed and people have not been able to see the other games. But we have seen a couple of games,” Kearney said.

“We got to see St Kevin’s and St John’s and that was a fantastic game. Loughgiel and Ballycastle was a good game too. It is good that there is a good mix of teams in with a shout.

“You could have picked four or five teams at the start of the competition. You couldn’t do that with the senior Championship.”

But it is the senior Championship that is expected to benefit from the success of the u-21 series, as it will only help to feed the weaker teams in the county.
Cushendall are going well at senior level anyway, as the Shamrocks are top of Division one, a point ahead of All-Ireland champions Loughgiel.

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published June 8. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent or, for only 90p, purchase the online edition by clicking here