AIB Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship final: Ruairi Óg, Cushendall 1-15 St Joseph’s, Ballycran 0-10
HIS legs covered in tin foil, the jersey thrown over the top for heat as much as decoration as he sat on the floor of the tunnel, Arron Graffin’s team-mates huddled around him with the Four Seasons Cup back in their arms.
Post-match, he was at the centre of their minds. Having battled back from one horror knee injury, he suffered what looked like a second when he appeared to innocuously suffer a suspected dislocation of the other knee.
The crowd’s reaction was sickeningly audible as the medical staff seemed to pop it back into place during a lengthy delay on the pitch.
It was the blot on what was otherwise another great day for Cushendall, who claimed their eleventh Ulster hurling title by fending off a wasteful Ballycran.
An inspiration. @AGraffin pic.twitter.com/1EhnbNEcBj
— Neil McManus (@Neilmcmanus88) November 11, 2018
The wind-assisted Antrim champions looked to have most of the work done when they led by 1-11 to 0-6 at the interval, but they were somewhat let off the hook by Gary Savage’s side missing a glut of chances from frees.
While the Ruairi Ógs were delighted just to be back on top, they could be looking at heading into the All-Ireland series without two of their key men.
Conor Carson missed yesterday’s game as he begins life in Spain, and Cushendall boss Eamon Gillan said it was “unlikely” that he would be involved after Christmas when they face the Galway champions.
As for Graffin, they’ll wait for news.
“It seemed to pop, because I heard them popping it back in not that far from me at the time. Arron Graffin would go through walls for you.
“If it’s possible for him to be back, he’ll be back, but I’m not sure. He was playing powerful. Centre-half suits him down to the ground, he played spectacularly well,” said Gillan.
There may be one chink of light with the fact that Christy McNaughton is back in the gym doing bits and pieces with a mind to rejoining the squad, and Gillan – while praising his side’s defensive display and workrate - admitted they could do with a bit more scoring presence.
For his counterpart Gary Savage, there was the bitter taste of regret. Their performance levels went through the roof as they completely dominated much of the second half.
They tried a series of free-takers but nothing worked as they failed to take the scores that would have made it an edgier encounter.
“Well, you hate blaming guys on frees because they are brave enough to take those frees,” said Savage.
“We missed four or five in a row there and it could have swung the momentum the other way. It's one of those things, I don't want to blame anybody.
“We just couldn't get those three or four scores in a row to get that bit of momentum. And then, we missed a couple of frees, they got a score and the head goes down a wee bit maybe. That happens. Momentum is everything in hurling.”
