We ask a few opinions on how things will go tomorrow and while our own corrospondent Brendan McTaggart and Ballycastle manager Gabriel Crawford opt for their native Dunloy, Dave Mohan of the Andytown News opts for the ‘Dall and Loughgiel manager Johnny Campbell can’t decide….no matter how hard we pushed him.
David Mohan – Belfast Media Group Sports Editor (Cushendall)
Sunday’s Antrim Senior Hurling Championship final is an intriguing match-up of a seasoned group in Cushendall against the up-and-comers in Dunloy.
Cushendall have all the know-how going into this one with Arron Graffin, Eoghan Campbell, Neil McManus and Paddy McGill all names who would grace any side, while Cormac McClafferty will hope to repeat his quarter-final heroics when he bagged 5-4.
Dunloy have been touted as heirs to the Antrim hurling throne and will hope their vastly talented young guns can rise to the occasion on Sunday.
They will need big games from Conor McKinley – likely to pick up McManus – and Paul Shiels to help the likes of Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill and Conal Cunning.
Conditions could be a factor in this game as a heavy ground will suit Cushendall.
The Volunteer Cup will certainly be in Dunloy before long, but not just on this occasion. Cushendall may just be a little bit ahead of them still and they should be celebrating at the final whistle, but only just.
Brendan McTaggart – Saffron Gael
(Dunloy)
We have an intriguing final in prospect. The young pretenders against the team that has been there, done that and got the t-shirt so many times that they probably have different versions of that t-shirt!
As expected the Ruairi’s accounted for Clooney Gaels and the Biddies with consummate ease before their semi-final showdown against the reigning champions Loughgiel. A war of attrition between the two biggest rivals in recent years and Cushendall showed a steely determination and a willingness to win ugly to get over the line in the end.
Dunloy have certainly impressed on their route to Sunday’s final. They had a helter-skelter championship encounter against St John’s where they pulled away in the final quarter before they blitzed The Town in the semi-final with an awesome display.
Cushendall won’t give the Dunloy forwards the space they were afforded in their semi-final win that’s for certain. The Ruairi’s have the best defensive unit in the county and that adds to the intrigue with the Cuchullains attack looking superb thus far. Graffin, the Burke’s and Ryan McCambridge back to the brilliant form he showed in the Ruairi’s All-Ireland journey while David Kearney has been their most improved player in 2017. Neil McManus and Paddy McGill will be the obvious dangermen for the Ruairi’s in attach while Cormac McClafferty has a predatory instinct, as shown with his quarter-final performance.
The Cuchullains have the attacking trio of Conal Cunning, Eoin O’Neill and Keelan Molloy to call upon while their half back line of Conor McKinley, Kevin Molloy and Kevin McKeague have been superb but the return to full fitness and hence form of Paul Shiels has been instrumental so far.
Match ups will be crucial and it could be down to whatever management team get it right on the day that will go a long way to deciding where the Volunteer Cup stays on Sunday night.
It will be close and while many will see it as a year (or two) too soon, I think that Sunday is the day where this Cuchullains team come of age. The speed they have in their attack is frightening and with the variation throughout in supply I think that, good as the Cushendall defence is, the Cuchullains attack will be too much. Dunloy to win a close contest.
Gabriel Crawford – Ballycastle manager
(Dunloy)
We were disappointed with our semi-final performance as we felt that we didn’t do ourselves justice. That being said, the better team won on the day. Dunloy’s attack was something else on the day, their speed and movement off the ball while their stick work was superior to ours. They’re definitely reaping the rewards of the Academy that was built with the crop of players coming through the ranks.
It’s going to be a tough one to call. The experience of Cushendall will have them as favourites but they’re coming up against boys who play with youthful exuberance that don’t know anything other than winning.
Cushendall had a tougher semi-final and that will stand by them coming into the final. They know how to get over the line in tight games but Dunloy have old hands there to call upon if needed. The likes of James McKeague, Conor McKinley, Mickey McClements and Paudie Shivers all know that winning feeling.
A lot of people have been writing Dunloy off because of the experience that Cushendall will bring on the day but I think that Dunloy will win. They have boys in their team and on the bench who will run and run all day at you and no matter how strong or resolute your defence is, that’s extremely hard to deal with. Dunloy to edge home.
Johnny Campbell – Loughgiel Manager
The only thing I can predict is the unpredictability of this match. I don’t like sitting on the fence but I genuinely believe that this one is too close to call. I always thought throughout the year that there wouldn’t be too much between ourselves, Cushendall and Dunloy and I still think that’s the case. Dunloy have definitely added to their game from last year but I think there is nothing between the teams. The bookies I think have made Cushendall slight favourites but I see nothing more than a poc of the ball either way.
I don’t see Cushendall setting up with a sweeper from the first whistle like they did against us but if Dunloy get joy up front early doors then that could change. Dunloy have youth and inexperience but that can be a positive as well with young lads playing with no fear while Cushendall have a team full of season championship hurlers. It’s contrasting styles as well with Dunloy having pace and skill in attack while Cushendall are strong physically all over the field. If Dunloy can match them in the rucks and breakdown then they won’t be far away.
Like our semi-final against Cushendall, it will come down to the small things on the day, a mistake here or there or the free takers and both sides have excellent free takers.
The Ballycastle pitch will probably be heavy like it was a couple of weeks ago and many will see that as suiting Cushendall’s style of play but with the speed in attack for Dunloy I don’t see that affecting them too much. I genuinely can’t call a winner between these two and I won’t be surprised whoever wins it.