Finalagony forhurlers

Eoghan Rua coach Joe Passmore said its hurlers will be back after suffering defeat in the Ulster Intermediate hurling final on Sunday.
Press Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016
AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena 
St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine 
Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho
Coleraine's Sean Leo McGoldrick in action against Cloughmills Ruairi LavertyPress Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016
AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena 
St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine 
Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho
Coleraine's Sean Leo McGoldrick in action against Cloughmills Ruairi Laverty
Press Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016 AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho Coleraine's Sean Leo McGoldrick in action against Cloughmills Ruairi Laverty

The Coleraine side went down 1-11 to 2-06 to St Brigid’s Cloughmills in Ballymena.

A two-point margin was all that separated the teams at the end.

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There was not much between them in the first half and they reached half-time level on 1-05 each.

Press Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016
AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena 
St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine 
Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho
Cloughmills and Coleraine players battle it out in the Ballymena fogPress Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016
AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena 
St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine 
Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho
Cloughmills and Coleraine players battle it out in the Ballymena fog
Press Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016 AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho Cloughmills and Coleraine players battle it out in the Ballymena fog

But Cloughmills put in a strong second half and hit four points in succession before Derry’s champions Eoghan Rua hit back with a late goal.

However, a late Owen Kinney point for Clougmills helped wrap up the win.

“We felt that, given the level of fitness of this team, if we were in contention near the end, we would have a great chance,” said Passmore.

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“And we were in contention. Colm [McGoldrick] had a chance, but the ball wouldn’t rise for him.

Press Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016
AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena 
St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine 
Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho
Cloughmills and Coleraine players battle it out in the Ballymena fogPress Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016
AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena 
St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine 
Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho
Cloughmills and Coleraine players battle it out in the Ballymena fog
Press Eye Northern Ireland - November 20th 2016 AIB Ulster Club Hurling Championship final at Quinn Park, Ballymena St Brigid's Cloughmills v Eoghan Rua Coleraine Mandatory credit - Pic by John McIlwaine Press Eye/Inpho Cloughmills and Coleraine players battle it out in the Ballymena fog

“They took their chances, we didn’t and that’s how it is some days. Fair play to Cloughmills.

“From our point of view, I think that we gave it a good lash. We have proved that we deserved to be here. We play fair. We are a good hurling team looking to better ourselves and we will continue to do that in Eoghan Rua. We’ll be back.”