Cushendall vs Slaughtneil LIVE score updates from Ulster Club ...

AIB Ulster Club SHC semi-final: Slaughtneil 1-36 Cushendall 3-25 (AET)

A 3-9 haul from the peerless Neil McManus wasn’t enough to see Cushendall past Slaughtneil as the Derry champions won a pulsating battle after extra-time in the Box-It Athletic Grounds on Saturday night.

The former Antrim skipper scored his third goal with the final act of normal time to force extra-time, but Slaughtneil finished well on top to secure a five-point victory to set up a final clash with Portaferry.

Having lost out to Cushendall in last season’s Ulster Club Hurling final, Slaughtneil were determined to start on the front foot on Saturday night.

They did just that as they raced into a 0-7 to 0-1 lead inside the first 10 minutes.

Two points each from Jack and Shea Cassidy and further points from Se McGuigan, Ruairi Ó Mianain and Brendan Rogers had the Emmet’s well on top while McManus landed Cushendall’s opening score.

Indeed, only for a 1-7 haul in the opening half from their inspirational captain, Cushendall might have been out of contention by the break.

McManus kept the scoreboard ticking over and plundered a scrappy goal midway though the half and followed it up with a point from play to close the gap momentarily to two points.

However, Jack Cassidy was having a stormer at midfield and brought his tally to 0-5, all from play while a mix-up in the Cushendall defence led to a goal for Slaughtneil.

Meehaul McGrath put Eamon Cassidy through and he had a clear sight at goal when Liam Gillan and Ruairi McCollam collided with each other and Cassidy made no mistake from close range.

Cushendall dug deep before the break with scores from Fergus McCambridge and Eoghan Campbell and they did well to only trail by four at half-time.

A second goal from McManus had the sides level early in the second half and they traded blows like two heavyweight boxers throughout an engrossing second half.

Slaughtneil must have believed they’d done enough as they forged four clear towards the end of normal time with Rogers bringing his tally to five for the day.

However, the dual ace missed an opportunity to put five between the sides and a McManus a free in stoppage-time left a goal between them.

In scenes reminiscent of last season’s semi-final win over Portaferry, McManus plundered an unlikely goal with the sliotar taking a wild deflection en-route to the Slaughtneil goal.

A melee as the teams made their way into the dressing room only served to increase the tension in the stadium.

However, the Emmet’s were the better team in extra-time as O’Doherty and Rogers punished some slack defending by Cushendall.

By the full-time whistle, five points separated the teams on a night when Ulster Hurling was the winner.

Slaughtneil scorers: Brendan Rogers 0-7, Cormac O’Doherty 0-6 (0-2fs), Jack Cassidy 0-6, Eamon Cassidy 1-1, Se McGuigan 0-3, Mark McGuigan 0-3, Ruairi Ó Mianain 0-2, Shea Cassidy 0-2, Conor Coyle 0-2, Conor McAlister 0-1, Fionn McEldowney 0-1, Meehail McGrath 0-1.

Cushendall scorers: Neil McManus 3-9 (0-2,fs, 0-2 65s), Fergus McCambridge 0-3, Ronan McAteer 0-2, Fred McCurry 0-2, Eoghan Campbell 0-2, Ed McQuillan 0-1, Scott Walsh 0-1, Sean McAfee 0-1, Paddy Burke 0-1, Ryan McCambridge 0-1, Joe McLaughlin 0-1.

Here’s a recap of how Saturday’s Ulster Club SHC semi-final unfolded. . .