Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship
Match Day Two
As we go into the second weekend of the Antrim hurling championships group stages, we look ahead at the two matches with Sarsfields and St John’s making their way to north Antrim for their first matches in the round robin phase. Their opponents, Dunloy and Loughgiel, recorded contrasting victories in match day one, the Shamrocks taking apart Rossa with 33 points to spare while Dunloy got the defence of their crown off to a winning start but sneaked past Cushendall with the minimum to spare in a repeat of last years final.
Brendan McTaggart has a look at the runners and riders as we begin to get a clearer picture of who will make the semi-final spots.
Group 1
Dunloy vs Sarsfields
Saturday September 1
Venue: Pearse Park, Dunloy
Throw in: 4:30pm
Referee: Paul McSparran (Cushendun)
It might not be on the scale of David vs Golaith, but it’s fair to say Sarsfields have a baptism of fire on their return to the senior grade. The 2017 Intermediate champions travel to Pearse Park Dunloy for to get their championship off and running and they come up against a Dunloy side who are reigning champions and just seven days earlier defeated Cushendall in their back yard.
For those who like an underdog, you can back the men from the Bear Pit at 10/1 while you would have to put £50 on the Cuchullains to win £1. The size of the task for the Paddies is reflected in the odds differential. Gargantuan. History isn’t in the Paddies side either. The gap from Intermediate to Senior is huge. Just ask the Biddies, Clooney Gaels and Creggan after their recent exertions at the top table of Antrim hurling. That being said, it’s just four years since Sarsfields were a puc of the ball away from reaching the senior final. St Gall’s got the better of them that day. They cruised their way to the intermediate championship last year while along with an unbeaten run in Division Three but in 2018 they’ve found life tougher. The loss of the hugely influential Niall McKenna hasn’t done the Paddies any favours. McKenna was the Paddies most consistent and on many occasions outstanding performer in 2-17 but the Antrim county man took his trade to Warwickshire for 2018, reaching the Nicky Rackard Cup Final along with clubmate Gary Lennon. Cup tied, the duo are a big loss for the Paddies but they welcome back Kevin McKernan to the fold. McKernan is a huge talent and along with McKenna, led the Sarsfields attack in 2017. They have two scheduled games left in the league and lay two points out of the drop zone. They will need at least one more win to maintain their Division Two status but for now, their sights are on the reigning Antrim champions.
Dunloy scrapped past Cushendall in a ding dong battle last Saturday. The Ruairi’s looked like they would get their campaign off to a winning start before Dunloy showed their Championship credentials at the death. Paul Shiels and Keelan Molloy did the lions share of the scoring for the Cuchullains while Kevin Molloy was superb at centre half.
The champions will start as hot favourites and anything other than a Dunloy win would go down in Antrim hurling folklore. The conundrum for the home side on Saturday is improving on their last outing. Despite getting off to a winning start, the general consensus leaving Páirc Mhuire was the Cuchullains got out of jail. They weren’t at their fluent best although they probably won’t need to reach such heights on Saturday. They welcome back Conal Cunning from suspension, ‘Coby’ serving a one match ban for his dismissal in last years Ulster Championship and will give the Cuchullains an added dimension in attack. Cushendall edged the midfield exchanges last week and the Dunloy management may shake things up again. Ciaran Elliott came on in the second half and Dunloy could be tempted to partner him and Shiels again. They have options in all facets and areas such is their strength in depth.
12 months ago, Sarsfields had a dream year. They added the junior football championship to their intermediate hurling crown along with promotion to Division Two with the wee ball. I just don’t see that dream continuing. Dunloy will make it two from two and take their place in the semi-finals.
Group 2
Loughgiel vs St John’s
Sunday September 2
Venue: Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel
Throw in: 12:30pm
Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)
All roads lead to Fr Healy Park on Sunday for a 12:30 throw in. Forget about the big ball game taking place later in the day at GAA Headquarters, Loughgiel and St John’s is the contest that will be everything we hope for in championship hurling.
The Shamrocks disposed of Rossa with consummate professionalism and ease last weekend. They were expected to account for the Shaw’s Road men but the manner in how they dismantled the beleaguered Rossa challenge was hugely impressive. There was no chance of over confidence creeping into the Shamrocks mindset. 60 minutes later, they had racked up a 33 point winning margin with six goals in the process to put one and a half feet into the semi-final.
A 20 minute cameo from the returning Liam Watson along with substitute appearances from Sian McGrath, Maol Connolly and Mark McFadden shows the strength in depth Johnny Campbell and Clinton Hennessey have at their disposal. 10 different scorers with Shay Casey finishing with an impressive 2-3 – Dan McCloskey (two) Sian McGrath and Tiernan Coyle netting the other majors for the 20 times champions of Antrim tells you the 2016 champions mean business from the word go.
St John’s have the benefit of two championship games already in their legs this year. Something they haven’t been able to say at senior level for a long time in Corrigan Park. There in alone lays the benefit of the round robin format. That aside, the Johnnies were impressive in booking their place in the group stage, defeating Ballycastle with 22 points to spare over the two legs.
In recent years they’ve showed they are a dangerous team who are capable of turning over anyone on their day. They were favourites to come through against Ballycastle and they did so while impressing those in attendance. Preparations for Tony McNulty’s side have been hampered with the Johnnies footballers having a match against Lámh Dhearg during the week, the joys of being a dual club and they have injury concerns over Ciaran Johnston, Stephen Tierney and Simon McCrory with all three missing the second leg against Ballycastle. McCrory remains a huge doubt while centre half Ryan McNulty had to come off in the same match but he, Tierney and Johnston are expected to make the starting 15.
When these two played in the league at the end of July in Corrigan Park, St John’s fought back to take a deserving share of the points available. It gave us a glimpse of what could materialise on Sunday. Loughgiel may start this one as slight favourites but I wouldn’t be surprised if St John’s sneak the win. Momentum can do wonders for a teams confidence, look at last weekend with Clooney Gaels dismantling Cloughmills who had been playing a league above them but struggling while the Ahoghill men have gained promotion from Division Three. Winning breads a winning mentality and St John’s have applied themselves well in the league and have upped the ante in the championship. That being said, it would take a braver man than I to bet against the Shamrocks this weekend. When it comes to the championship, they have a certain pedigree within the game in Antrim. The name Loughgiel has been synonymous with the Antrim championship for a long time and they know how to win when it matters most. They have all but secured their place in the semi-finals. If the Johnnies do manage to beat the bookies, it would require Rossa to perform a minor miracle with a massive win over St John’s in match day three to leave Loughgiel facing championship oblivion while a Loughgiel victory leaves a straight shoot out in a Belfast derby. The prospect of the match between the two west Belfast rivals certainly whets the appetite, I think the Johnnies will have to wait until then to book their place in the semi-final. Loughgiel to win a tight contest.