A Look back at 2009 and a memorable championship run

Last week we looked back at Antrim’s great season in 2010 when they gained promotion to division to of the National Football league before being beaten in the league final in Croke Park by Sligo.

Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley was the man in charge at the time and he was the man at the helm, a year earlier when Antrim enjoyed a superb championship run to the Ulster final and today we took a look back to 2009.

Antrim travelled to Ballybofey to face Donegal in the quarter-final as rank outsiders but pulled off a major shock by defeating the home side by a point. The majority of the National press could hardly believe it with headlines like ‘Antrim cling on for victory’ the norm at the time.

It was a major boost for football in Antrim at the time however and a tribute to Bradley and his backroom team who had managed to pull the best players in the county together and looking back in hindsight, this was an excellent Antrim team.

The journey continued with a semi-final win over Cavan in Clones before losing to Tyrone in the final and would end in a never to be forgotten day in Tullamore where the Saffrons would push the mighty Kerry right to the wire in the qualifiers.

Aodhan Gallagher in action against Donegal in Ballybofey

June 15th, 2009

Ulster SFC Quarter-final:
Donegal 0-12 Antrim 1-10

Antrim pulled off a major shock in Ballybofey by outscoring a wasteful Donegal in the Ulster Championship in Ballybofey

The game was extremely tight throughout but Antrim led for almost the entire first half, John Joe Doherty’s Donegal only sneaking into a 0-6 to 0-5 lead on the stroke of the half-time whistle.

Donegal’s were wasteful during the opening half and it didn’t improve after half-time, with a plucky Antrim pegging them back.

Antrim then moved in front thanks to a superb Tomas McCann’s goal, the Cargin man raced forward and had his initial shot saved before rippling the net to send his side four clear.

Donegal got within one just before the end but Antrim substitute Kevin O’Boyle struck a superb point from the right wing which gave the unfancied visitors a landmark win.

Antrim began the game brightly and were 0-3 to 0-2 up within 15 minutes, Paddy Cunningham knocking over an early brace.

Donegal’s young attacker Michael Murphy was in superb form in the first half and his accurate shooting from frees and abrasive attacking style kept his side close to Antrim. However, Donegal’s wide count was already worryingly high as they dominated midfield but failed to register much on the board.

Nonetheless, Murphy’s brilliantly executed placed ball just before the break sent them in a point ahead.

Tomas McCann who’s goal swung the game Antrim’s way

Donegal looked to have found their rhythm after the break and went two ahead with Ciaran Bonner’s point but Antrim kept battling, helped especially by the sturdy qualities of the McCann brothers, Tomas and Michael.

Indeed, it was Tomas who put Antrim back in the lead at 0-9 to 0-8 when he took Michael’s pass to slot over.

That was a decisive moment as suddenly, Antrim began to stifle Donegal at midfield and win more possession. McCann had a glorious chance for a goal which was brilliantly blocked by Donegal defender Michael McGuire, but seconds later the corner-forward got his reward.

He raced clear down the left wing before cutting in and firing at Paul Durkin who saved, only to see the ball rebound to McCann who finished well.

Two quick Colm McFadden frees reduced the gap to two before Donegal cut the gap to one with Christy Toye’s elegant, cool point.

However, Antrim found the character to see off the late charge from the struggling favourites and O’Boyle’s magnificent score gave them a crucial two-point buffer, which Rory Kavanagh’s last-gasp point couldn’t extinguish.

Scorers for Antrim: M McCann 0-1 (0-1f), A Gallagher 0-1, K Brady 0-1, P Cunningham 0-4 (0-3f), T McCann 1-2 (0-1 ’45), K O’Boyle 0-1.

Scorers for Donegal: C Bonner 0-1, R Kavanagh 0-2, C McFadden 0-2 (0-2f), M Murphy 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ’45), C Toye 0-1.

Donegal: P Durcan, E McGee, N McGee, K Lacey, B Dunnion, K Cassidy, M McGuire, N Gallagher, B Boyle, C Bonner, M Hegarty, R Kavanagh, C McFadden, M Murphy, C Dunne.

Subs: C Toye for Dunnion (HT), B Roper for Hegarty ‘50, D Walsh for Dunne ‘52, F McGlynn for Boyle ‘59.

Antrim: S McGreevy,C Brady, A McLean, D McCann, T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey, M McCann, A Gallagher,T O’Neill, K Brady, N McKeever, P Cunningham, S Burke, T McCann.

Subs: K O’Boyle for D McCann ‘49, K Niblock for Burke ’50, C Close for Brady ‘54, B Hasson for McKeever ‘63.

‘Baker’ Bradley urges his side on in Ballybofey

On the same day Antrim minors lost to Donegal but were perhaps unfortunate. Here are some photographs from the day and I recognise ‘Cricky’ McGuinness of Rossa and and a young James Laverty of Cargin.