Thirty-seven years ago today, April 24th 1983 Loughgiel Shamrocks made history when they became the first Antrim and Ulster team to win the All Ireland Club Hurling Championship when they beat St Rynaghs of Offaly in the All Ireland final replay at Casement Park. The teams had ended level the week before and the replay was set for Casement Park the following Sunday. It is a day written large in the minds of Shamrocks fans, but this historic breakthrough was far from plain sailing for the men in red and they went into most of the games during that campaign as rank outsiders.

To mark this historic occassion I ask Seamus ‘Crow’ McNaughton to write down his thoughts about the win, and the journey, and – after a bit of persuasion – he duly obliged

The Road to Casement………

37 years ago today, Seamróga Lochgaol made history when they brought the Tom Moore Cup to Ulster for the first time ever.  No Loughgiel Gael will ever forget that day or indeed the preceding week in Croke Park when the Shamrocks drew with St Rynagh’s Offlay to secure a replay in Casement Park Belfast. But let’s not forget the hard road to Casement – it took a lot of soul searching, commitment and hard work to get there.  To many it seemed like an impossible dream as just a short 9 months before, the Shamrocks had been defeated in the first round of the Feis Cup by Glenariffe, putting on a very poor display.  Such was the disappointment in the Parish that some people were even suggesting digging the Hurling Field up and planting potatoes in it. 

Despite the doom and gloom in the area, and while morale in the team was low, hearts were big and Neal Patterson, Dan Carey, Danny McMullan and Liam McGarry regrouped to bring the team together and instil some hope that they could be County Champions again.   The Championship campaign started with a win over Sarsfields, then County Champions (and favourites by a country mile), Cushendall in the semi-final..  That win set up a final meeting with one of the greatest Ballycastle sides ever (who should have won the Tom Moore in 1980, when beaten by four points by Castlegar of Galway in the final).  The Shamrocks got off to a great start that day and it set them up for victory and were deserved County Champions at the end of the game.   Winning the Ulster semi-final, against Clontibret of Monaghan set up an Ulster Final against Ballygalget down in Ballygalget.  The Shamrocks came through another tough game by 1.9 to 9 points to seal the Ulster title.  Suddenly an All-Ireland title became a real possibility in the minds of the Shamrocks players and the campaign started in earnest.  Training sessions over the winter in Fr Healy Park in dark, wet, freezing weather, under floodlights provided by a few cars, only served to strengthen the team commitment and sprit. In February 1983, the Shamrocks, underdogs again, defeated red hot favourites Moycarkey-Borris of Tipperary (despite conceding a goal in the opening minutes) to secure a place in the All-Ireland Final. 

Due to a dispute in the other semi-final, between Kiltormer of Galway and St Rynaghs, the Shamrocks had to wait until 17^th April to meet the Offaly champions in the final.   Heading to Dublin on the Saturday night the team stayed in the Clarence Hotel beside the Liffey, waking up early on Sunday morning for Mass and then onto a puc-around in the Phoenix Park before heading to Croke Park.  A hard fought match ensued where the Shamrocks were clearly the better team but at the end were fortunate to get a draw when Pádraig Horan hit a dubious free wide on the Hill 16 end to finish the game on level terms. The teams were all set to go back to Croke the following week, but the National Football League final between Down and Armagh was down for decision at headquarters and that threw a spanner in the works. Antrim county chairman Hugh McPoland argued that since the drawn game was played against a Leinster team, in Leinster, that Loughgiel should have the right to play the replay at the home of Ulster hurling, Casement Park, and in fairness to St Rynagh’s they agreed to come north the following weekend.

The Final in Casement on 24^th April 1983 will be forever etched in the memories of the 10,000 Shamrock, Antrim and Ulster supporters who were blessed to be there.   At the end of the match the Shamrocks were winners by 2-12 to 1-12, Aiden McCarry and Brendan Laverty getting the goals, and the Tom Moore Cup had arrived in Ulster for the first time, something that seemed highly unlikely nine months earlier after that Feis Cup defeat by Glenariffe.    

 A nice touch a few months later, due to the foresight of  Rasharkin GAA was to bring  Kiltomer of Galway to play a match against the All-Ireland Champions, in the opening of the new Pitch at Dreen. The Shamrocks won that encounter, which meant at they had beaten St Rynagh’s of Offaly, Kiltomer of Galway and Moycarkey-Borris of Tipperary – the 3 Provincial champions – in the one year.

 It just goes to show that with faith, hope, commitment and a few good men you can achieve anything in a very short space of time.

Writing in the Irish Times on Tuesday 26^th April 1983, Paddy Downey stated that Loughgiel Shamrocks’ victory over St Rynagh’s was one of the most notable events in nearly 100 years of competitive Gaelic sport.

So in these dark days remember brighter days will come and we’ll all look forward to playing and watching our national game again and appreciating the important things in life.

Loughgiel scores v St Rynaghs.

A. McCarry 1-3, B. Laverty 1-1, S. McNaughton 0-3, P. Carey Jnr. 0-2, P. Carey Snr. 0-1, A. McNaughton 0-1, M. O’Connell 0-1.

The team who made history that fateful day in Casement Park was

Niall Patterson, Martin Carey, PJ O’Mullan, Sean Carey, Eamon Connolly, Paddy McIhatton, Aidan McNaughton, Mick O’Connell, Gerard McKinley, Aidan McCarry, Brendan Laverty, Dominic McKinley, Wee Paddy Carey, Big Paddy Carey, Seamus ‘Crow’ McNaughton.

We continue or reports from 50 years ago of Antrim’s push to the All Ireland Intermediate Hurling title. After beating Down in the Ulster final and Galway in the quarter final, Dublin then stood in the way, and once again they Saffrons had to play in their opponents back yard, just as they had done against Down and Galway. However this team had been together for two years at this stage and with Justin McCarthy now on board in a coaching capacity there was a new found confidence in the team. At the end of Denis O’Hara’s report he states that the win had at last secured them a home venue against Warwickshire in the final the following week, but as we will find out next week that did not materialise as the exiles refused to travel.

All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship 1970

SUPERB DISPLAY SEES ANTRIM INTO FINAL

McGarry and Richmond goals sink Dublin

By Denis O’Hara

ANTRIM 2-15           Dublin 2-11

The painful memory of an insipid, foul-ridden All-Ireland senior hurling final was clinically erased yesterday at Croke Park for those fans fortunate enough to witness a superb showpiece between Dublin and Antrim.

Casting aside all inhibitions of inferiority, a plague which has beset Antrim for many decades in their games against Southern opposition, the Justin McCarthy-inspired Ulster champions took another step nearer history with a superlative second-half exhibition.

Now one game away from fulfilment of a new-found overnight promise Antrim hurlers reached a new peak in performance with a masterly exhibition of crisp, confident hurling to reduce the fancied Leinster champions to a ragged frustrated side.

But just as important as the result was from a Northern point of view the standard of play was a cut above the ordinary and for this Dublin must take a great deal of credit. The were a few minor incidents in the action-packed hour which forced referee Jimmy Hatton to make temporary interruptions from practical obscurity; but overall, the encounter will be remembered as a game for the purist. I considered it a gross misfortune that the ever-exposing eye of television was not there to recapture a production of the game at its best.

Like quite a few followers of the game I have patiently waited for the day when an Ulster hurling county would produce an exhibition of the game as the should be played. And no matter how hard Dublin played Antrim always remained composed and convinced that their newfound determination and methodical approach would play dividends.

Ample Proof

Antrim’s gutsy display against Galway at Ballinasloe in the quarter final was regarded as their best performance for decades. But somehow, I think yesterday’s entertainment was ample proof that the team has at last gained faith in its true ability.

The first half display was considerably lukewarm in comparison to the tigerish score hungry combination of the second session. And it was in this period, apart from a slight slacking off in the last ten minutes, that the Saffrons produced their top-drawer ability. Trailing by three points at the interval I wondered if we were about to witness yet another disappointing chapter of Antrim hurlers ‘doing their best’.

Superior fitness and a thirsting appetite for victory saw them take the game but the scruff of the neck and there was nothing that rugged Dublin could do.

The secret of this overnight success is partly due to the almost frantic fervour instilled into the players by Cork-born coach Jimmy McCarthy.

The former Munster star joined the squad at Dublin on Saturday and at the interval yesterday marshalled the players to attention in the dressing room for a ticking-off.

“You may think that the last 30 minutes display was good enough”, rasped McCarthy. “It is not. Go out there and show us just what you can really do”.

And true to the near hypnotic treatment the players roared into the game again with an approach which must have shocked even the most ardent Antrim fans.

They moved like a dream at times, blocked and struck the ball with conviction and soon had Dublin on their knees. For so many years Antrim have promised so much and achieved so little that the few faithful followers were, I’m sure, prepared to accept once more that they did their best but not enough. But now history has been made purely through a dogged determination and sever will to win at all costs.

More Cause to Cheer

Now they make their final bid for glory against unknown Warwickshire and before the first flush of victory celebrations had subsided in the dressing room the winners had more cause to cheer.

County board secretary Al McMurray solved the venue riddle of the final by announcing that the cross-channel side will travel to Casement Park on Sunday for the decider.

But just because the final is on home territory does not mean that Antrim will take the opposition lightly. Tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday the boys will assemble for further training sessions and Justin McCarthy will fly down to Belfast on Friday for the final countdown tactical talks.

But back to the semi-final which had everything in Dublin’s favour. I cannot recall an Antrim victory over the Metropolitans in a competitive game and no doubt the Leinster champions felt comforted in this respect as they lined out for what used to be a mere formality.

Right from the start however Antrim tried to stamp their dominancy on the opposition but failed to click in the jittery attack. The forwards seemed a little too eager to score and more than not the players became tangled up in their own plans.

They took the lead through points by Sean Collins but their hopes must have been temporarily dashed when Dublin’s dangerman Mick Bermingham slammed home a great goal in the seventh minute.

The player handed the unenviable task of policing former senior and New York star Bermingham was a name not even listed among the Antrim reserves!

McGranaghan returns

Selected corner back Chris Elliott was unable to field after being involved in a car accident on Saturday. The selectors made a hurried decision to coax U-21 star and All-Ireland football (U-21) medal winner Martin McGranaghan out of hurling retirement.

The 20-year old St John’s player had given up the game after receiving a severe injury against Cork in the U-21 hurling semi-final. And it was lucky for Antrim that the easy-going, quiet-spoken McGranaghan agreed to pit his immature frame against the wiles of stocky Bermingham.

Martin started on a shaky note but gradually settled to blot out the sole Dublin scoring hope. Near the end of the first half Antrim gave a slight glimmer of expected fireworks. And after that McCarthy pep-talk there was just no holding them.

Inside eight minutes the teams were on level terms thanks to opportune points by McShane, Hamill and McCallin. The seal of victory was shaped early when Seamus Richmond, although not at his usual best, blasted to the net from a free by Collins in the 40^th minute.

This was the incentive that Antrim really needed and apart from one consolation point by Bermingham from a free Dublin were just not at the races.

Great score

Antrim hurlers timed their movements to perfection. Thirteen minutes from the end Brendan McGarry achieved the score of the game when he picked up a cross from Donnelly to flick the ball past helpless ‘keeper Cunningham.

In the closing minutes Antrim, now seven points ahead, slightly rested on their oars. Dublin, to their credit, called on their last reserves to try and snatch the game from the fire but must wonder today just where the Saffron players found their new bravado. Time and again Antrim players made do-or-die stoppages before the agonising closing seconds were brought to an end.

It could be argued that a small number of the winning side were not playing to par but in all fairness the result was mainly because of an all round will to win. The combined determination and grit was enough to discourage even greater opposition.

Goalie John Coyle once again performed with a near professionalism and never once flinched in the face of some desperation tackles by the Dublin forwards. The defence in general held the key to victory. They operated with an almost uncanny anticipation and their blocking was perfection.

Full back Kevin Donnelly kept a strong vigil on an assortment of full forwards while McGranaghan made match winner Bermingham’s hour a nightmare. But the most poignant memory of the last line of defence was the bravery of Eamonn Hamill whose courage bordered on the reckless. Playing in an Antrim hurling jersey took on a new meaning yesterday and the half back trio of Wheeler, Connolly and McCamphill made all the difference between success and failure when Antrim were a little up against it.

• 

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Four stitches

Wheeler’s face injury, which necessitated four stitches, after being carried off in the 41^st minute, had every sign of the beginning of the end.

But it made the rest of the team fight all the harder with Aidan Connolly proving a capable deputy.

His brother Tony was a model of consistency. Tony’s methodical no nonsense blocking and striking must have had a frustrating effect on Dublin while Aidan McCamphill had his best ever game in an Antrim jersey.

At last the Saffrons have found the perfect midfield combination-sweeper up in Sean Burns, a craftsman supreme, and lanky Sean Collin. Both had to contend with very capable opponents yet their anticipation and fast snappy striking was unerring.

Slick passing moves

The rock of power up front was Eddie Donnelly, who, although strangely quiet in the first half, moved through the Dublin defence like a tank. He laid on the important chances which were eagerly snapped up by an on-form Brendan McGarry and will o’ the wisp Andy McCallin.

There was a definite pattern of play in the attack which raised the stature of Antrim’s hurling ability with a variety of slick close passing moves and expert running off the ball.

McCallin, when moved to the half forward line, was a constant menace to the Dublin defence and had to take a few crude tackles in the process.

Aidan Hamill tried desperately to settle on the slippery surface and while not at his best had a tremendous understanding with razor sharp deep lying full forward Paddy McShane.

Seamus Richmond cashed in on Dublin’s defensive deficiencies and his second half goal was the foundation stone to victory.

For Dublin goalie Cunningham had a superb hour although his cover left a lot to be desired. The Leinster champions defence had to be strengthened in the second half by top forward Liam Markey but this move was of little consequence.

Bermingham proved his opportunism but when he was snuffed out of the game Dublin, apart from Kinsella, had little to offer. Their late rally was due mainly to a restoration of resolve by midfielders Sean McShane and Sean Kennedy.

Antrim marksmen – B. McGarry (2-2), A. McCallin (0-6 three from frees), S. Collins (0-2 one from free), P. McShane, S. Burns (free), A. Hamill (0-1 each).

Dublin scorers – M. Bermingham (2-6 five points from frees), S. Kinsella (0-3), G. McShane, S. Kennedy (0-1 each).

Antrim – John Coyle, Martin McGranaghan, Kevin Donnelly, Eamonn Hamill, Nial Wheeler, Tony Connolly, Aidan McCamphill, Sean Burns (capt.) and Sean Collins, Aidan Hamill, Eddie Donnelly, Seamus Richmond, Brendan McGarry, Paddy McShane, Andy McCallin

Sub – Aidan Connolly for Wheeler

Dublin – Paddy Cunningham, Liam Devitt, Sean Brennan, Vinney Flood, Sean Moyles (capt.), Tom Purcell, Pay Murphy, John McShane and Sean Kennedy, Sean Kinsella, Liam Markey, P.J. Holden, Jim Kenny, Mick McShane, Mick Bermingham

Subs – Mick Kennedy for M. McShane, C. Finnegan for Moyles

Referee – Jimmy Hatton (Wicklow)