The forgotten men of 89

By Paddy McIlwaine

1989 will rightly be remembered by Antrim Gaels for the feats of its hurling side. The Saffron hurlers came very close to writing their names into history when they defeated Offaly in the All Ireland semi-final before falling to a Nicholas English inspired Tipperary in the final.

The performances of the Antrim hurlers that year over shadowed what was an excellent year for the Antrim footballers who topped division 3 North of the National Football League and indeed went through the league unbeaten.

The wheels came off the wagon somewhat when they lost to division 3 South winners Wexford in the final on the same day as the Antrim hurlers defeated Offaly in a relegation play-off in Droheda.

Eamon Grieves Antrim footballers had already qualified for the All Ireland league quarter-final however and when they were drawn against Kerry in that quarter-final in Croke Park there was a real buzz about the county.

I had the privilege of accompanying Antrim during that National League campaign and came across an old photo album I compiled at the time and it set my memory racing and reflecting on just how good a side Antrim had at the time.

Under the guidance of Eamon Grieves and his selectors, Roy McLarnon and Gerard Higgins the Saffrons topped a group which included Tyrone, Leitrim, Laois, Offaly, Sligo, Fermanagh and Westmeath.

Antrim were unbeaten in that Division 3 North Campaign, winning five and drawing with Tyrone and Laois and contained some outstanding players. A look at a photograph from the time revealed that amongst the Saffron panel were two future Antrim managers.

Brian White who was at the helm when Antrim won an All Ireland B championship by beating Fermanagh in the final and recorded a first Ulster Championship win for over a decade when they beat Down at Casement Park and the present Antrim manager, Lenny Harbison.

The 89 league quarter-final will long live in the memory of this scribe, despite defeat to Kerry. The team stayed overnight in Dublin and on the morning of the quarter-final had unexpected visitors to their hotel when Dublin stopped for breakfast on their way to Portlaoise where they met Division 3 South Winners, Wexford.

your’s truely with Roy McLarnon in Croke Park in 89

On the day of the game Jimmy McGee, the famous T.V. presenter and journalist interviewed Eamon Grieve and some of the players prior to the game in the Croke Park dressing rooms and there was a real buzz about the place.

Antrim lost that quarter-final by 3-10 to 1-9 against odds on favourites Kerry who included the legendry Pat Spillane, Jack O’Shea and Eoin ‘Bomber’ Liston in a star studded side, but covered themselves in credit.

Amongst my memories from the game was a point from St. Paul’s Paul McErlain from out near the Hogan Stand touchline and about 45 meters from goal and a tackle from Enda McAtamney who overtook Jack O’Shea following a 40 meter lung busting run to dispossess the great man.

Antrim won the Ulster U21 Championship the same year, beating Armagh, Tyrone and Down on their way to Ulster success before losing to Cork in the All Ireland semi-final and many of that side featured on that senior side the same year.

Great days indeed and I’ve include a few photographs of photographs, unfortunately the quality is poor as I’ve lost the negatives but hopefully they will bring back memories for those who were part of that memorable campaign.

I’ve also include some newspaper cuttings supplied by a member of that team, Enda McAtamney and I thank my former club colleague for those clippings.

Division Three (North) Table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
Antrim	7	5	2	0	12	Advance to quarter-finals; Promoted to Division Two of the 1989–90 NFL
Tyrone	7	4	2	1	10	Promoted to Division Two of the 1989–90 NFL
Leitrim	7	5	0	2	10
Laois	7	4	1	2	9
Offaly	7	4	1	2	9
Sligo	7	2	0	5	4
Fermanagh	7	1	0	6	2
Westmeath	7	0	0	7	0

Division Three (South) Table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Status
Wexford	7	6	0	1	12	Advance to quarter-finals; Promoted to Division Two of the 1989–90 NFL
Limerick	7	6	0	1	12
Waterford	7	5	0	2	10
Clare	7	4	0	3	8
Tipperary	7	3	1	3	7
Wicklow	7	2	1	4	5
Carlow	7	1	0	6	2
Kilkenny	7	0	0	7	0

Knockout Stages

1989 league quarter final

Game 8. Quarter-final
Kerry Vs Antrim in Dublin on March 26th, 1989
Final Score: Kerry 3-10; Antrim 1-9.

Antrim: Liam Turbett (St. John’s), Ciaran Hamill (Glenavy), Ciaran O’Neill (Cargin), Michael Johnston (Cargin), Seamus McGoran (St. Gall’s), Enda McAtamney (All Saints), Alex McQuillan (Glenravel), Charlie McStravick (St. Paul’s), Stephen Mulvenna (St. Paul’s), Timmy Connolly (All Saints), Paul McErlean (St. Paul’s), Micky Darragh (St. John’s), Barney McCann (All Saints), Donnach Finnegan (St. Paul’s), Raymond Higgins (Glenravel).

Subs: Sean McManus (O’Donnell’s), Greg Finnegan (St. Paul’s), Stephen McVeigh (Tir na nOg), Lennie Harbison (St. Gall’s), John McCloskey (Rossa), Donal Armstrong (Rossa)

Kerry: Charlie Nelligan, Castleisland Desmonds,Ken Savage, Kerins O’Rahillys, Tom Spillane
Templenoe, Robbie Dwyer, Waterville,Connie Murphy, Dr. Crokes, Ambrose O’Donovan, Gneeveguilla, Eamonn Walsh, Knocknagoshel, Dermot (Jnr) Hanafin, Castleisland Desmonds, Jack O’Shea, St. Marys Caherciveen (0-2), Timmy Fleming, Laune Rangers, Tommy Doyle, Annascaul, (0-1), Pat Spillane, Templenoe (0-1), Mike McAuliffe
Spa (1-3),Eoin Liston, Beale (1-1), John Kennedy, Asdee