Managers View – Gregory O’Kane, Cuchullains

Dunloy manager Gregory O’Kane continues his own personal crusade to write history with the Volunteer Cup.  As a player and a manager, he’s been involved in all of the Cuchullains championship winning teams.  13 might be unlucky for some but it’s the magic number for O’Kane and his team. 

Throughout his career, Greg’s parents have been by his side through thick and thin, the good and the bad.  He suffered their loss in the space of eight weeks nine months ago and there’s no doubting both will have been proud of their son and the Cuchullains.  It’s an incredible achievement for Gregory but he wasn’t interested in the personal accolade: “That’s number 13 and its nice stat to have but it’s not about me.  I have a management team around me with 35 plus players.  It’s their hard work and effort that got us here.”

The match itself turned in first half injury time when the Ruairi’s led by four points.  Nigel Elliott scoring the Cuchullains first goal and leaving the Cuchullains behind by just the minimum.  An improved performance in front of the target after the interval and two goals in two minutes at the business end of the hour sealed the deal.  Despite a frustrating opening half with double figures in wides, O’Kane told us they had to keep the faith: “That’s in us.  We just had to say to them at half time to keep going.  We didn’t play bad in the first half and we probably didn’t deserve to be behind. 

“We hit a lot of wides and it left us a bit nervous, you know.  But we got in at half time and said to trust in themselves and their instincts.”

The changes made during the second half proved to be pivotal.  Gabriel McTaggart and Seaan Elliott’s introduction significant with Elliott scoring the goals and McTaggart involved in the build up for both.  O’Kane made the call to start Seaan from the bench for the final after starting the three games previous, a massive call but the Dunloy manager told us: “Seaan Elliott is still a boy and learning his trade.  We felt the semi-final was a hard gig and physically he maybe wasn’t up to that so we decided to take the pressure off him today and allow him to come off the bench.

“Gaby’s a ball winner and we had the finisher off the shoulder and the finish was spot on.”

“We were always creating and we tried to keep the players composed.  We knew the scores would flow whether it be points or the goals.  We had to wait a bit longer for the goals but thank God they came when they did.”

For all the Cuchullains attacking talents, O’Kane was keen to highlight the shift his defence put in over the hour, especially without Kevin Molloy who suffered an injury in their semi-final win over Loughgiel: “I felt we dealt with them well in defence.  To lose Bunga was a massive blow for us but Kevin McKeague came in today and I thought he was outstanding.  He was as good as any player out on the pitch today.”

Cushendall’s first goal settled the Ruairi’s and while it came from an uncharacteristic error from Ryan Elliott, the way the Dunloy ‘keeper responded delighted O’Kane: “Ryan pulled off a brilliant save after half time and I thought his all-round game today was excellent.  His poc outs and those two saves were outstanding.”

The Cuchullains now have a four week wait before facing Ballycran in the Ulster semi-final in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh.  Before turning his attention to that, the Dunloy manager had a special word for the Cuchullains captain: “To have Paul Shiels as captain as well makes it special.  He’s our go to man when the chips are down and by god he delivered today.

“Off course we’re delighted to get into Ulster but we looked no further than today.  We knew this would be tough and the type of game Cushendall bring.” 

Managers View – Ciaran Kearney, Ruairi Og’s

The Ruairi’s reign as county champions ended on Sunday but they put in an incredible performance for 60 minutes in what has been described as one of the best county finals in recent years.  A small grain of consolation for the Ruairi’s but they more than played their part in an excellent advert for hurling within our county.

The match itself was defined in small but crucial moments.  Nigel Elliott’s goal before half time and Ryan Elliott denying Paddy McGill what seemed like a nailed on goal shortly after the restart.  Cushendall manager Ciaran Kearney gave his thoughts while recognising the Dunloy ‘keepers mental strength in how he recovered from his error in the first half: “We had goal chances and they had one or two good saves from Ryan and to be fair to him he atoned for himself.  I’m sure he’s pleased, I was a goalkeeper myself and I know what it’s like to drop one in.  He made some big saves and he can keep his head up after that.

“We just didn’t get the scores in the second half.  We had goal chances and we didn’t take them, that was the difference.

“We had to push up and it left us open at the back but it was a risk and reward scenario.  There’s no point in losing by seven or losing by one.  It’s the same kind of thing.”

Despite holding a lead at half time, Cushendall played much better after the interval.  The second half was pulsating, end to end hurling but the Cuchullains were more clinical, Kearney added: “We were a bit more direct in the second half, sending ball in and creating opportunities.  We maybe over played things around the middle on a few occasions in the first half, instead of taking the scores but we didn’t take our opportunities and that was the difference.

With the sides tied 20 minutes into the second half, Cushendall hit three wides in as many attacks.  It seemed to deflate their challenge and Kearney conceded a spell like that would harm their chances: “Wides don’t help at anytime.  There are obviously big moments in games but it’s all still a blur to me.  Fair play to Dunloy, we know they’re a good team but I feel that our boys showed they’re a hell of a team too.  We have a lot of boys there who are going to play senior hurling for Cushendall for a long time.  We’ll just have to comeback again.  This isn’t the first final we’ve lost unfortunately.  We lost in ’17 and came back in ’18.” 

Everyone knows the game Cushendall bring when they take to the field.  High pressure, huge intensity and massive physicality.  The work rate they go through is incredible and yesterday they surprised some with how attacking they set up.  Kearney cast a frustrated figure when commenting: “At times other teams play with two men in the full forward line and it’s called making space in the attack.  Some times we play two men in full forward and it’s called very defensive.  You have to do what works.  If I had a different set of players I might play a different style of hurling.  You can just play the hand that your dealt with.  Our lads have done very well I have to say and we’ve tried to play differently but when you look at the physicality that we’re missing from the likes of Conor Carson and Sean McAfee. 

“We’ve mixed things up with Paddy (McGill) and Alex (Delargy) for most of the year and do things differently.  We have plenty of boys, the likes of Paddy Burke and Eoghan Campbell that if they’re given time and space, they can do damage.  Niall McCormick breaking through, Fergus (McCambridge) breaking through, I don’t think us playing attacking hurling shouldn’t surprise anyone.”

They played their part in a hugely entertaining game but ultimately their championship ended at the final hurdle.  Kearney concluded by praising his squad for their efforts throughout the year: “Absolutely.  I just told the lads and before the game and then at half time again.  I couldn’t be prouder of them.  They’re an absolutely amazing bunch of lads and a pleasure to work with.”