Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CONOR STORY NEEDS SILVER LINING
Calls for medal for missing star
NEIL MCMANUS has called on new Ulster champions Cushendall to buy a medal for Conor Carson, who missed their victory on Sunday due to work commitments.
‘Dall boss Eamonn Gillan slammed the state of the Athletic Grounds pitch after Sunday’s win over Ballycran claiming it is too sandy for hurling.
But Mcmanus was more worried about giant forward Carson, who is now based in Spain training to fly planes for Aer Lingus.
“Our heart goes out to Conor, because we wouldn’t even have been in an Ulster final only he dragged us through the last two matches,” insisted
Mcmanus, right, who top-scored with 0-9 in
Sunday’s decider.
“Against St John’s in the semi-final replay he was exceptional and again in the county final (against Loughgiel).
“There’s not too many men walking around Cushendall as athletic as he is as six feet six, so he’s a big big bonus.
“He has only started his training and couldn’t get away.
“But hopefully the club will purchase an Ulster medal and give it to him because he has absolutely earned it.
“No-one deserves it more.” Mcmanus also paid tribute to injured defender Aaron Graffin, who suffered a dislocated knee injury during the game. Medics from both clubs attended to him during an eight-minute stoppage and his knee was put back in place.
An emotional Mcmanus admitted: “That totally overshadowed it for me. “Myself and Aaron have been together throughout. We were christened on the same day in the same chapel. We were in the same class at primary and secondary school and he was always a leader on the hurling field and always a very good man to have by your side.
“He was down there for a long time and we just came together on the field and said ‘we don’t leave without that Cup today, boys’.” Meanwhile, Gillan was unhappy with the surface in the Athletic Grounds – which he believes is not suitable for hurling.
The game was low-scoring, just 1-15 to 0-10 against the Down champions, which he reckoned was also down to the amount of sand on the pitch.
“Football is one thing but in hurling it’s a different story, it’s just not suitable,” he rapped.
“There were a lot of picks that couldn’t be picked and it was a bit scrappier.
“That’s why a lot of men around the ball because people couldn’t get the first pick away.”