By Shaun Casey

ROSS McQuillan was one of six Cullyhanna scorers in their impressive 11-point win over Down champions Liatroim as they booked their spot in the Ulster Intermediate Championship final for the first time in their history.

McQuillan chipped in with 0-2 while his club and county teammates Aidan Nugent and Jason Duffy also got on the scoresheet along with Gavan Duffy, Shea Hoey and Tony Donnelly.

Despite registering an eye-catching tally of 0-17 on the night, the St Patrick’s men came away knowing they still have some work to do with regards to their accuracy in front of the posts.

The wide count built up, particularly in the opening period, was slightly higher than they’d like while they dropped a number of shots short as well.

“It’s a great win but we were probably a wee bit wasteful in the first half and even at the start of the second half,” said Cullyhanna wing half-forward McQuillan.

“But once we found our feet, we started to take the easy score then and we built up a nice wee lead in the second half and saw the game out from there.

“A lot of our shots and wides were good chances but we just snapped at them, me included, Shea (Hoey) and boys that you’d be backing to score.

“Then there were other shots that maybe weren’t really on, and I suppose you could probably put that down to the pressure that Liatroim were putting on us.”

Cullyhanna dominated the middle section of the field and their pressure around the centre, particularly on the Liatroim restarts, paid dividends. The kickout press was a real feature of their Armagh campaign and it’s a real strength for Stephen Reel’s side.

McQuillan paid tribute to the men around the middle who do all the “donkey work” and how it helps his side break away in attack.

“When you have boys out the middle there like Barry McConville, Pearse Casey and Jason (Duffy), they do a lot of the donkey work for the likes of myself and that gives us a real platform to go forward from.”

McQuillan, a member of Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh team, has been in fine form and was recently named Armagh Intermediate Player of the Year for his displays throughout the championship for Cullyhanna.

McQuillan, along with teammates Sean Connell, Shea Hoey and Aidan Nugent, all picked up Armagh Club All-Stars as well.

A one-point first round victory over Tyrone champions Pomeroy was Cullyhanna’s first-ever win in the provincial competition and now the St Patrick’s men, two-time intermediate winners in the Orchard County, are looking forward to an Ulster final against Cavan side Ballyhaise.

“No Armagh team has ever won an Ulster intermediate title so it would be lovely to be the first ones to put our name on the cup. We’ll be back again training on Tuesday, we’ll have a couple of pints tonight [Sunday] and then back at it again on Tuesday night.”