The Galway intermediate hurling champions Maigh Cuilinn lost out to Robert Emmetts (London ) last Sunday in Ruislip by 1-12 to 2-7 in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
The London outfit was lively up front and the full-forward line hit 1-08 from play. Ardrahan native Maurice Callanan was a key player for the hosts, hitting 0-5 over the hour from corner forward. Cappataggle’s Niall Healy also showed well for the London champions at wing-back.
Emmetts led by 1-5 to 0-3 heading to half time. Maigh Cuilinn’s midfielder Pat Lydon stopped the rot with a great point from play and, when his younger brother Philly found the back of the net, it provided a life-line that Fergal Clancy’s charges badly needed.
Eanna Noone levelled with a 65 and, despite playing second fiddle for most of the first half, the Galway champions were level, 1-5 to 1-5 at the break.
Emmetts were the better side in the second half and led by 1-11 to 1-7 going into the final stages. Vinnie Flaherty struck for a late goal for Maigh Cuilinn and they almost pushed the game to injury-time with a late 65 from Eanna Noone.
However Callanan hit his fifth point to leave two between the sides at the finish and bring Maigh Cuilinn’s wonderful 2011 hurling season to a close.
Team manager Fergal Clancy was magnanimous and gracious in defeat. “We were beaten by a better team. We did not settle into the game as we would have liked, but we are making no excuses. Emmetts have some outstanding players all over the pitch and you have to admire the way they played. We had everything done, but we were not good enough on the day”.
“We learnt an awful lot last weekend and we have a lot of work to do for next year. The lads were gutted to lose as they had hoped to go all the way. However, we have had good days this year and we will learn from the defeat. We are looking forward to playing senior championship hurling next season and we are delighted to be back in the senior ranks of Galway hurling. That was our objective last January and it has been achieved.”
Maigh Cuilinn: Michael Darcy, S McDermott, M Donohue, B Faherty, T Higgins, M Lydon, S O'Fatharta, E Noone, Pat Lydon, D Kelly, V Faherty, N Mannion, C Bohan, Philip Lydon, C Hurney. Subs used: Morgan Darcy, S Conneely.
