Slaughtneil overcome Cushendall in Ulster hurling epic

An epic Ulster Club hurling semi-final went the way of Slaughtneil who eventually ended their Cushendall hoodoo with victory over the defending champions at Box-It Athletic Grounds on Saturday.

This was a game which will live long in the memory as the sides slugged it out, with Derry's Slaughtneil making up for disappointment against the Antrim team in last year's final.

They had to dig deep as just as they thought they had it won in normal time, up stepped Neil McManus to find a goal with the last act - just as he did at the same stage last year against Portaferry - to force extra time, but this time the Ruairi Og men couldn't carry the momentum with them as Slaughtneil found the answers.

The Derry champions flew out of the traps with the opening three scores through Shea Cassidy, Sé McGuigan and Ruairí Ó Mianáin.

Neil McManus carried the fight for Cushendall in the opening half with 1-07 on the board by the break and he got them off the mark but Slaughneil cracked off the next four with Jack Cassidy grabbing two of his five in the opening period.

Cushendall grew into it with the next four, but Slaughneil responded in kind with an inspirational effort from Brendan Rogers the pick as they refused to show signs of dropping off after their flying start and again led by six.

Slaughtneil waste no time in firing back as Eamon Cassidy finds the net