By Liam Tunney
Andersonstown Social Club Antrim IHC Final
Carey Faughs v Naomh Éanna
Páirc Mhuire, Cushendall
5:00pm
Darren McKeown – Naomh Gall
The most open and competitive championship in Antrim comes to a head on Saturday evening as the hurlers of Naomh Éanna and Carey Faughs converge on Cushendall for the Andersonstown Social Club IHC Final.
Neither manager has any excuse for being late for this one, as both should be familiar with the final venue. Both Carey Faughs supremo Aidan Delargy and Naomh Eanna boss Terence McNaughton know every blade of the Páirc Mhuire turf and will lead their teams into a battlefield they have graced on many occasions.
An extra-time goal from Conor McBride finally dismissed the fancied Sarsfield’s challenge in the Semi-Final, but the Faughs’ young corner forward was still in nappies when Carey last tasted success in the IHC.
The Ballyvoy men lifted the title back in 2002 but have suffered final heartbreak on five occasions since. Championship final losses can have a profound effect on the runners-up, but their quiet determination to return has seen the Faughs remain perennial contenders for the title over the last seventeen years.
Naomh Éanna have been loitering around the IHC winners’ enclosure for the last few years and reached the decider in 2016, before falling at the semi-Final stage in 2017 and 2018.
Their footballers have tasted success at this level, going all the way to the All-Ireland Final this Spring and claimed this season’s Division 2 hurling title to clinch promotion to the top flight. They will be looking to make further history by seeing both codes competing at Senior level next year.
Paths to the Final
Hightown side Naomh Éanna began their journey n the Preliminary Round where they breezed past an injury-ravaged Cloney Gaels. A 0-10 haul from John McGoldrick and a superb 0-05 from half-back Joe Maskey set up a Quarter-Final clash with their conquerors from last season, Kickham’s Creggan.
On a dour evening in Randalstown McGoldrick was again crucial, a brace of 58th minute frees just edging his side over the line, before Naomh Éanna comfortably saw off Oisín Glenariffe at a windswept St Paul’s to seal their passage to Saturday’s final.
Carey entered the fray at the Quarter-Final stage, defeating neighbours Armoy. The game was played a day later than scheduled due to heavy rain, but a 2-07 haul from the prodigious Conor McBride saw them reach the last four with ten points to spare.
The Faughs were then involved in a breathless tussle with 2017 champions Sarsfield’s, who must have thought they were home and hosed after Ryan Carson gave them a 66th minute lead, but a huge John McBride effort from a free deep in his own half sent the game to extra time, where Conor McBride’s second goal of the game finally killed off the challenge from the Bear Pit.
Key Match-Ups
John McGoldrick v Patrick Gillan
Naomh Éanna hitman McGoldrick has torn up the IHC scoring to date, with an extremely healthy 0-27 to his name. While much of his tally has come from the placed ball, many of these are won from his own industrious play.
Gillan made the Saffron Gael Team of the Week following their Semi-Final victory, where he chastened a number of the Sarsfield’s forwards, showing strength and skill to repeatedly come out with possession, with which he found a target.
With McGoldrick so influential from frees, Gillan will need to shore him up from open play and be disciplined in the tackle.
Joe Maskey v James Black
Both these players are hugely important to their respective sides. Charged with picking up PJ O’Connell in their championship opener, Maskey went even further, notching 0-05 off the Ahoghill star.
The half-back split the posts twice in the Semi-Final and his athleticism and skill make him a defensive nightmare for an attacking half-forward.
In captain James Black, Carey have a man who has led by example on many occasions. In the Semi-Final, with the Faughs playing into a stiff breeze, ‘Rocket’ dropped deep and was crucial to his side being in contention at the break.
As the second half commenced, Black pushed up and ended the game with 0-04 as Sarsfield’s struggled to come to terms with his electric pace and stickwork.
These two could provide a battle worth the admission fee alone.
Eddie O’Connor v Michael McVeigh
After James McCuaig’s red card in the Semi-Final, McVeigh was charged with picking up the influential Niall McKenna and those man-marking abilities will be needed again on Saturday against a man in a rich vein of form – Naomh Éanna’s Eddie O’Connor.
The half-forward terrorised the Oisín’s defence, helping himself to 0-03 and covering much of the pitch as he busied himself with creating opportunities for others.
McVeigh will need to watch him closely as he settles himself for one more hour of graft and guile.
Conor McBride v Niall O’Connor
O’Connor, or whoever Terence McNaughton burdens with tracking him, will need to be prepared for an hour of solid endeavour as they attempt to curb the influence of Conor McBride.
While lacking in experience, the electric corner forward is short in neither talent or confidence and with 4-13 in two games, could well be a marked man.
His goal threat will be crucial to the Faughs’ challenge and if they are to upset the odds as they did in the Semi-Final, he will need to be closely followed.
Contrasting Styles
Talent is running through both of the sides but there was a marked difference in approach during their respective Semi-Finals.
Naomh Éanna’s dispatch of Glenariffe was clinical and professional and they were dismissed with minimum fuss.
Their Division 2 campaign was undertaken in a similar vein, their feathers only ruffled when they were mauled in the Bear Pit back in May.
They haven’t lost since.
To be in the vicinity of Carey’s team talk as they faced into extra time was to leave your hair standing on end. Their management delivered a rousing oration that energised a Faughs side who responded to every word and intonation.
They emptied the tank.
Both approaches were expedient at the time, but Saturday opens a fresh page in the notebook and indeed in the annals of history.
Either Naomh Éanna will claim a maiden IHC crown or Carey will end the heartache and lift their first title in 17 years.
Páirc Mhuire awaits.