Thirty years ago Dunloy made the breakthrough when they they won the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship for the first time. It was clear, given the juvenile success they had enjoyed during the 1980s, that this was an up and coming team, but they had promising teams in the past and as yet had not taken that final step to championship success.
Over the next week will be tracking the Cuchullains path to breakthrough glory and we start today with their win over 1987 champions Cushendall.
Dunloy were favourites going int their opening round against the Ruairis, but the ‘Dall were a formidable outfit and were to prove it the when they bounced back to take the next three Antrim titles in 91,92 and 93. However the young Cuchullains had their measure that day in Loughgiel.
1990 Antrim Senior Hurling Championship First – Round
Dunloy 4-10 Cushendall 2-08
Trailing by three points at half time pre match favourites Dunloy turned in a confident second half performance to beat Cushendall in the opening round of the Senior hurling championship at a cold and windy Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel.
When the Cuchullian’s went in at half time just three points adrift after playing into a strong breeze they looked a good bet to advance.
A Michael Maguire goal one minute after the restart squared the match and when they added three quick points there looked only one winner in this game. Admittedly Cushendall did battle away determinedly and with ten minutes to go they were only two points behind, but they never looked like scoring the goal they needed and the young Cuchullian’s pulled away in the final minutes.
Cushendall made a dream start when John Carson struck a high ball from Alistair McGuile overhead to the net in the first minute. Less than a minute later Paddy Walsh pointed a free to put them three clear.
Before the game I felt that a bad start would severely test the character of this inexperienced Dunloy team but they were handed a golden opportunity to recover in the third minute when a high tackle by Cushendall full back Aiden McAteer gave them a penalty, which Seamus McMullan blasted to the net.
McMullan had the green flag flying again five minutes later when he connected overhead on a long free by Gary O’Kane to put Dunloy ahead. However, foolish gamesmanship by Tony McGrath in the twelfth minute (which meant a Cushendall 30m free was brought forward to the 20m line) gave Paddy Walsh the chance to blast the ball home though a crowded goal line.
Points from Seamus Boyle and Allister Elliott gave Dunloy the lead by the end of the first quarter but Cushendall were starting to make the wind advantage pay and a well taken point by John Carson restored arity in the seventeenth minute.
The closing ten minutes of the first half saw Cushendall enjoy plenty of possession but their failure to pursue these chances was ultimately to prove their downfall. Admittedly Dunloy netminder Shane Elliott had a lot to do with that Cushendall goal failure in their period for he made a couple of good saves, one of which was a brilliant reflex effort from a ground stroke by John Carson.
The ‘Dall did score three nice points though, but you somehow felt as if they went into that dressing room at half time knowing that it was not enough of an advantage to hold as they turned to face the wind.
If Cushendall were to hold out, then a good start to the second half was vital. However, such hopes were dashed within a minute of the restart when Dunloy’s left half forward Michael Maguire soloed through and scored a lovely goal on the run without taking the ball in his hand. Two points from Jarlath Elliott frees and a beauty from play by Seamus Boyle eased Dunloy three ahead but Cushendall pulled one back when Paddy Walsh batted a James McNaughton cross barely over the bar.
Boyle and Alistar Elliott slung over two more to put four between the sides but Cushendall called on their wealth of experience and closed the gap again with points from Paddy Walsh and Dominic McKeegan. However, this was as close as they would get, for Dunlot finished strongly and hit some very good scores.
Nigel and Jarlath Elliott knocked over points before substitute ‘Dick’ O’Kane finally sealed it with a nice individual goal five minutes from time.
Overall Dunloy can be pleased with this performance and should face St. Johns in the quarter final on Sunday week with some confidence. However, there is still a lot of experience to be gained that one swallow never made a summer.
On Sunday last they showed a lot more character than in previous years, but they are still a very young team by championship standard and they still have a bit of maturing to do in this department.
With Shane Elliott they have a good reliable keeper who made a few vital saves on Sunday last. In defence Dominic McMullan, Sean McIlhatton and in particular Gary O’Kane played some great hurling while at midfield Nigel Elliott and Tony McGrath always had the upper hand.
The forward line contains some good players and of these Seamus Boyle, Michael Maguire and Jarlath Elliott were most prominent.
Ten years ago, a Cushendall man told me that pound for pound Leonard McKeegan was the best hurler in Ulster. Little I have seen in those intervening years that has proven me wrong, and on Sunday the little maestro gave another polished performance in the pivot of defence – but for him Dunloy’s winning margin would have been higher. His brother Dominic gave him good support on his right while Sean and James McNaughton never let the side down.
Midfield was always playing second fiddle while in the forwards Paddy Walsh, Allister McGuile and John Carson (in the first half) were beat.
Dunloy team
S Elliott, C Kelly, D McMullan, S McIlhatton, N McCamphill, G O’Kane, S Mullan, N Elliott (0-01), T McGrath, S Boyle (0-03), S McMullan (2-00), M Maguire (1-00), E McKee, J Elliott (0-04), A Elliott (0-02)
Cushendall
C McNaughton, J McNaughton, A McAteer, S McNaughton, D McKeegan (0-01), L McKeegan (0-01), T McNaughton, M McCambridge, B Kearney, P Walsh (1-03), A McNaughton, A McAllister, J Carson (1-02), D McNaughton, A McGuile
