Domhnall Nugent talks to Jerome Quinn about the hell he as been througH and how things have turned things around
Month / June 2020
Emotional scenes as Gerard McLarnon returns home
There were highly emotional scenes tonight in Randalstown when Creggan Kickhams clubman Gerard McLarnon returned to his Roseville Avenue home after spending more than ten weeks in hospital, 57 days of which were in ICU due to the deadly Covid 19 virus.
His clubmates from ‘out the road’ Creggan Kickhams GAC and Creggan Wheelers Cycling Club were there in big numbers to welcome Gerard home and he got a rousing reception when he and his wife Kathleen came out to thank all those who had supported them through this very difficult time.
No more words are necessary, just watch this excellent video by Eunan McAteer
30 Years ago Dunloy finally made the breakthrough
By John McIlwaine
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Dunloy’s firs championship win when the club took their first county senior title with a team full of youth and exeburance. They had been regarded as one of the main huring teams in the county for many years but they had never made the breakthrough, losing county finals to arch rivals Loughgiel in 1963 and Rossa in 1976. The great Loughgiel team of the sixties had many an epic tussle with the Cuchullains, and though Dunloy had come close on a couple occasions they just could never get the upper had. That Dunloy team contained many great players like Chris Elliott, Aidan McCamphill and Willie Richmond, all of whom played on the Antrim team that won the All Ireland Intermediate title in 1970. However Loughgiel were at their brilliant best during that period with men like Johnny Coyle, Arthur Connolly, Seamus McMullan, Seamus Richmond and Brendan McGarry… and they ruled the roost.
When Loughgiel’s great run came to an end, Dunloy’s fortunes flagged as well, and though they got to a county final in 1976 Rossa were just too strong for them. The great Ballycastleside of the late seventies and early eighties were the team to beat in that era and there must have been some among the Cuchullain faithfull who felt it might never come.
Cushendall were the new kids on the block in the 1980s, winning their first in 1981 and adding two more in ’85 and ’87. They shared the honours in that decade with Ballycastle who were still the dominant team with four (1980, 83, 84 and 86) Loughgiel who got two (1982 and 89, adding the All Ireland title in 83) and Rossa who who picked up the ’88 crown. However Dunloy’s amazing success at juvenile level during the 1980s lifted hopes again, and when they won county titles at every juvenile grade in 1984 it was clear there was something special happening. With many of that team of the sixties involved in the management, like Willie Richmond and Chris Elliott the feeling grew and grew that the elusive Senior title was at last achievable. The rest as they say is history and thirty years on they have 13 of them in bag, ten Ulsters and four All Ireland final appearances, and are the reigning champions as another new young team emerges.
Over the next couple of weeks we will be reproducing the match reports and photos of that breakthrough year. To kick things off Saffron Gael reporter Brendan McTaggart gives his views on that 1990 campaign from a Dunloy perspective
Cuchullains obsession with ‘Big Ears’
By Brendan McTaggart
7th October 1990. The date may be as random as the next to some folk within the county but for a village in the north of the Antrim, it spelled the end of 85 years of being a bridesmaid and never the bride.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Dunloy Cuchullains claiming the senior hurling championship for the first time after 120 minutes of an epic battle against O’Donovan Rossa. Competing in their first final for 14 years, Dunloy were a team full of youthful exuberance and undoubted talent. Many pundits within the county were foretelling it was only a matter of time before they would take ‘Big Ears’ back to Pearse Park. What many wouldn’t have seen though is the heights the squad of players would reach. Not only playing and often matching the best Ireland had to offer, but raising the bar for every other team in the county.
But it could have been oh so different 30 years ago and had it not been for one Tony McGrath, the history books would tell a different tale.
Played in Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel, Rossa looked to be on their way to victory. A one point lead at the death. A chorus of whistles went through the vast crowd with the Rossa faithful praying for the final whistle from St John’s referee John Gough. I was knee high to a grasshopper but the memory of the tension at that time still produces the odd butterfly in my stomach. The sliotar fell loose to McGrath, the coolest man in Loughgiel, and he Split the posts, lofting the sliotar over the bar and Dunloy breathed a huge sigh of relief.
It wouldn’t be the last time Tony McGrath would be Dunloy’s hero but with one swing of his hurl in the classy and unmistakable style, he etched his name in Cuchullain folklore.
The replay was every bit as tense. Played in Casement Park and with the feeling around the county that Dunloy may have missed the boat. Rossa were a strong and classy team led superbly by All-Star Ciaran Barr and household names galore. Ger Rogan, Collie Murphy and Jim Close to name but a few. Just seven months previous they had reached the All-Ireland final only to lose to a Tony Doran inspired Buffer’s Alley of Wexford. They were a team that had been there, done that and they had so much experience they could have sold it by the bucket load on the Shaw’s Road.
The Jeremiah’s led by four points in the closing stages of the first half before 19 year old, Allister Elliott got the first of his two goals just before half time. Wee Ally’s second goal was every bit as well timed for the Cuchullains. Rossa held a one point advantage with four minutes of the hour remaining when he found the back of the net. Again it was McGrath who scored the final score of the game but this time it was to secure the victory and seal his side’s moment in history.
It proved to be an awakening in the ‘Cuchullain Village’. They would go onto win a further four titles in the 90’s (1990, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998) and six more in the 2000’s (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2007) with the vast majority of the squad who brought ‘Big Ears’ to Dunloy for the first time involved. Going on to win the Ulster championship 10 times and competing in four All-Ireland finals.
The one that got away.
The only team from the Saffron County who have defeated teams from all four provinces, that Dunloy team are regarding throughout the country to be one of, if not thee best team to never reach the promised land. Yet they kept coming back. Showing the same hunger and desire, year after year in an attempt to claim that ultimate prize.
In the All-Ireland series, they defeated some of the finest club sides to have ever graced the game. Atheny (’94), Glenmore (’95), Mount Sion (’03) and Portumna (’07) provided stern and awesome opposition and lasting memories of incredible games but the Tommy Moore Cup was always a step too far. Birr twice, Sixmilebridge and Newtownshandrum dealt hammer blows to the Cuchullains in their quest for the coveted crown and while the dream lives on, some look back on the missed opportunities with rueful regret.
Proud Dunloy clubman and team selector in the early 90’s, Willie Richmond looks back on the era with huge pride recalling that he had: “The easiest job in the county managing that team and they deserved to win the All-Ireland for the years of commitment they showed.” Richmond is better placed than most to speak about the Golden Era of Dunloy hurling, he mentored that side right through the age groups with Chris and Seamus Elliott. There’s one night in particular that stands out more than most for Richmond however, the night they unearthed the talent of wee Ally: “We had taken two teams to a league match, I think it was U12 and U14’s but we must have had 40 wains with us all running about looking to get on. It was bedlam but there was one more persistent than the rest. Chris (Elliott) looked at me and said, ‘For Jesus sake would you put him on, we might get a minutes peace.’ Ally was only seven at the time and he never looked behind him.”
The final against Rossa in 1990, Richmond joked about his memories: “What do I remember? Probably the number of rosary’s we said along the side line for them two matches.” He continued: “They were a really good side and to be honest about it all, we won the championship that year out of nowhere. We had a good side full of young lads and the talent was there but we won that year and were probably two or three years ahead of schedule. The average age of that team was in the region of 22.”
Speaking of that group of players through the age groups, Richmond knew they had a special group on their hands: “That team won everything that was put in front of them from U12. I think wee Ally has five or six U12 medals. In the GAA’s Centenary year the club won U12, U14, U16, minor and U21 so we knew that our time at the top table of the county would come. That side had a tremendous belief in their own ability and never feared anyone. There were some great teams Antrim at that time and the rivalry we had with Loughgiel was as feisty and fiery as anything you’ll ever witness.” He continued: “It was a sweet victory for us when the club had waited so long to win the first Championship. We couldn’t manage it in our own playing days so to taste victory while managing was the next best thing.
“The scenes back in the village will live long in my memory that’s for sure. The celebrations lasted into the second week and even if they had won an All-Ireland, I doubt they would have been able to replicate those scenes.”
So often the rock that the team was built upon and one of the most talented hurlers to ever have worn the Cuchullains shirt. Gary ‘Pappy’ O’Kane became synonymous with the number six shirt in the green and gold of Dunloy and saffron of Antrim. Pappy recalls the run up to the 1990 final and more vividly the semi-final win against Ballycastle: “That was a tight match. They were five or six points ahead but we finished the game well.
“I got the line in the second half and done nothing for it.” Laughs Pappy as he recalls the match in more detail: “Me and Dessie Donnelly were over by the side line competing for the ball when it was cleared and Big Dennis (Dominic McMullan) nailed him off the ball and the ref gave me a red card.
“In the changing room afterwards Big Dennis knew the score. He looked at me and asked me what the hell I got the line for.
“We were confident ahead of the final. We were a young group and I think nine of the starting 15 were still U21 but we had won everything together so even after the first match when people were saying we got out of jail, we had no negative thoughts at all and we knew we could do the business against Rossa the next day.
“It was no surprise to us. We grew up knowing nothing else but winning. That being said, we were playing alright in the league without being brilliant.
“That team had leaders everywhere you looked. Big Dennis behind me, Mushy and Patch either side, there was no passengers.”
The All-Ireland defeats still irk Pappy as he recalls: “We probably played our final in the semi-final but when you look at a team like Birr, they were a class act and Newtownshandrum took hurling to a new level. That first day against Birr was tough but I think the one that got away was Sixmilebridge.” Having reached the All-Ireland final for successive years and defeating Kilkenny champions in the semi-final, Pappy said it was the one they should have brought home: “The match against Glenmore in the semi-final was probably the best match we played. We were at the peak of our powers at the time and looking back, we missed the boat. I think if we won one, we would’ve gone on to win another with the added belief it would have gave us.”
St. Paul’s ‘Best 15’
Today we look at St. Paul’s ‘Best 15’ footballers through the eyes of club stalwart, Brian Coyle. Brian has served the Shaw’s Road club all his life as player and manager and presently manages the club’s very successful ladies team that won an Ulster Intermediate title last year.
He has come up with a strong line-up. As I say every day, it might not get everyone’s agreement but it’s just one man’s opinion. ‘It’s just a bit of fun!’
Brian Coyle’s St. Paul’s ‘Best 15’ footballers
I thought the challenges presented by COVID-19 pandemic was more than enough of a mental battle to a man of my years until being asked to select a Naomh Pol all-time 15. It certainly provoked some mental conflict as my mind was flooded with names such as the great Chris Murphy, Jim Hughes, Gary Flynn, Kieran Killyleagh, Anton Rogan and Aidan McAufield. Then there was the countless number of players from our successful minor teams of the 80s who brought us our senior success in the 90s. Gratitude to Dr Pearse Donnelly for recruiting and nurturing some of this talented group! I know everyone will have their own opinion but see what you think of my selection and I hope it will prompt some healthy debates within our own club. Remember I’m self-isolating and social distancing so no knocks at the front door!
Barry Burns who lines out on the edge of the square on Brian Coyle’s ‘Best 15’
1-The net minder I couldn’t look past our evergreen Sean McGreevy. Undoubtedly number 1 in Antrim and an All Star nominee. A true club stalwart.
2-Ryan O’Neill – a prolific club player who had a great ability of reading the play and was strong in the tackle.
3-Greg Finnegan – Primary attributes was his quickness across the ground and tremendous strength under the high ball.
4-Niall Ward – tough, tenacious in the tackle and pacey corner back.
5-Stephen Mulvenna – First class attacking from wing half back. Seldom that a player would get to the ball before him.
6-Marty Kerr – Wonderful reader of the game and distributor of the ball into the forward line.
7-Anto Finnegan – Immense leadership qualities on the pitch and always first to the ball.
Charlie McStravick
8-Charlie McStravick – excellent all round player who was difficult to stop on his attack. Great distributor of the ball.
9-Joe Quinn – industrious in mid field and an efficient link up player for the forwards.
10-Aidan Donnelly – Our clubs very own Benjamin Button. Unmarkable, agile and a genius on the ball.
11-Donagh Finnegan – Paul McErlean torn between. Donagh was a fantastic winner of the ball and strong going forward. Mackers put his creative basketball skills to effective use on the Gaelic pitch.
12-Fergus Donnelly – Another all-round skilful player. Resourceful on the ball and opened up many a defence.
Anto Finnegan
13-Joe Kennedy – Best Left foot in the county. Could score from any angle. Great work ethic and always got the scores.
14-Barry Burns – Saying he was a nuisance to defenders is an understatement, more of a menace. He worked hard for his team and toyed with his opponents’ mind.
15-John McManus – A natural ability to bring his team-mates into the game. Great free taker.
This was a tough call to make as I could easily create another team of classy players. I need to mention Brian ‘Robbo’ Robinson, Paul Burns, Barry O’Neill and Bobby Hamill (RIP). All great players and contributors to our teams in the past.
Joe Quinn (Right) who captained Antrim against Cavan
Gort na Móna’s ‘Best 15’ footballers
Today we look at the ‘Best 15’ footballers from Gort na Mona through the eyes of former player, manager and club stalwart Niall Enright. Big Niall was a handful for full-backs in a career that spanned a couple of decades and has lined out with some of Gort na Mona’s best during that time.
Not everyone will agree with his selection but it’s only one man’s opinion. ‘It’s just a bit of fun!’
Niall Enright’s ‘Best 15’
I am not 100% about the year but I am pretty sure I played my first senior football game in 1997 in a league game versus Davitts in the Falls Park and I played my last senior game in 2018. I played under Dessie Nolan, Gerard Holden, Gerry Begley, Martin Flanagan, Gerard Fleming, Paul Pollock, Matt Bradley x 2, Liam Enright & Rabby Clarke, Mickey Culbert, Liam McGoldrick, Brian White, Pearse McCotter, Dee Ritchie, Barry O Neill, Kevin McGourty, Sean Nolan, and Sean McKenna. I was lucky enough to play in the greatest Gort na Móna team of all time between 2005 and 2009, as well as the second greatest team managed by Sean McKenna in 2018-19. So I suppose I am as well placed as anybody to have a go at selecting a best ever Gort na Móna 15. It is of course very difficult to compare eras and the game has changed so much between 1997 and 2018 but great players are great players in any era. In many of the positions I have selected players based on a combination of all round ability, impact in a given era, or the contribution over a number of years. In all of the positions there are other players who have not made my team but are equally as good or if not better, we have been blessed with some very talented boys over the years.
I have noted the modesty of many of the contributors to this series who have left themselves or family members out of their best 15. Fair play to them but humility and modesty aren’t one of my personal qualities, so I will be selecting myself as no Gort na Móna great 15 would be complete without an Enright on the pitch! Part of the pleasure of this has been to ask myself who would I like to line out with one last time on a bright summers evening on Páirc Mhic Ionnractaigh?
Niall Enright
1-Thomas McCaffrey:
This is a difficult choice; the first really good team I played on in 2003 under Matt Bradley we had a then retired Pearse McCotter reluctantly play goalkeeper and he was brilliant at it, great kick out, handling and talker. I also played with the brilliant Joe Smith who has minor, u21 and intermediate championship medals with us. He was a brilliant team mate, never missed training always worked hard and gave 100%, had a great kick out and was a good all-rounder, but he just falls short. I have went with Gort na Móna’s current net minder Thomas McCaff. If there has been a better goal keeper in Antrim football over the last 2 seasons I haven’t seen him. Thomas is a good shot stopper, has great hands but his most important attribute is his brilliant and varied kick out, long short, high low, he can hit a breast plate from 50 metres.
2-Paul Conlon:
My good friend Pádraig Mac Cathail has been a brilliant servant to the club and was a steady presence in our full back line for over a decade and has kept some of Antrim’s best forwards quiet over the years but he just misses out in this team as I have went with PC in the corner who is a shoe in for the greatest 15 and realistically could play a number of positions here. He is arguably the club’s greatest ever athlete, quick, strong and disciplined, PC was a brilliant man marker and our go-to guy to play on the other team’s most dangerous forward. He could also play midfield and could make this team there, his performances in 2018/19 have been nothing short of a miracle after a career threatening injury and a 2 year layoff. I am playing him corner back in this team as our main man marker.
3-Tommy McGoran:
Pearce McCotter was a very strong all round player from the early part of my career, while Rabby Clarke is another player who could be selected at number of positions but he just misses out here, although it has to be said for me Rabby has had as big an impact on Gort na Móna as anyone in the club’s history and will definitely be the manager of this team alongside our Liam. I have went however with Tommy McGoran, Tommy is still only a young pup who hasn’t reached his peak or found his best position but for me his physical and athletic ability means he has to make the best ever 15, when this lad pics up momentum he cannot be stopped, he is brilliant in a race to the ball, has great hands and is very big man to try to get around. In a few years Tommy will be a candidate in mid field for this team if he continues to develop his game.
4-Paul Cordner :
Current senior footballers ‘Rash’ Devlin and Conor ‘Ging’ Connolly are good shouts for this position and have been real leaders for our club on the pitch for the last 5 years, both in the same mould, no nonsense man markers who are an excellent example to any young player, in that they have squeezed as much from their ability as possible with sheer hard work, but I have went with Paul Cordner in this position. Paul is a natural corner back, highly aggressive, strong in the tackle and comfortable on the ball, a mainstay of our defence during the 05 – 09 era, really solid team mate battered you in training but took it as well, never missed training and could always be relied upon to do a job. Paul and our Feargal had a particularly tempestuous relationships in training and were great mates of it, they brought a lot of the intensity and aggression to training that you need to build a team.
5-Declan Hughes:
For natural ability and impact on our best teams and for sheer longevity Decky has to make the team. Decky redefined the wing half back position within our club at the time when it was no longer good enough just to defend. At his best he had an unrivalled engine, would do 100 metre doggies all day long and was a forward’s worst nightmare, as you knew you would have to chase him. Importantly Decky understood his role and was a great team player, always used it simply and made the right choices whether that was to take a shot on or pass it to shooter. In my time playing no one created more scores for than me than Decky, usually a three metre hand pass!
Declan Hughes 
Paul Conlon
6-Paul McClelland:
We have had a lot of brilliant centre half backs, Noel Caldwell would get on any team in any era but soccer came first for him, when I was coming through Gerard Holden was brilliant here too, as was Ciarán Quinn who only played senior for one season but he mixed it with all the best players of his era. For me however in this key position there is a standout candidate and that is Paul McClelland. Paul is probably the club’s greatest ever dual player, represented Antrim in Football and Hurling at a time when it was difficult for smaller clubs to get players in the county team. Paul was like lightning, a great fielder and reader of the game, a great tackler and is one of the all-time Gort na Móna greats. Paul could play anywhere but he is centre half back in this greatest ever 15.
7-Sean (Bronski) Quinn:
Sean is a Gort na Móna legend who was taken from our community too young and too early but he was a dream to play with, weighing in at about 9 stone Bronski had the heart of a lion, was a brilliant carrier of the ball and could take a score. Sean won more frees than anyone I ever played with, for sheer heart and quality he has to make this team. Notable wing back candidates include Kevin Franklin, the hugely talented Sean Hall, Colm Keenan one the club’s greatest kick passers, Bap McCann who would push the lads in this team very hard for a starting birth.
8-Gerard Fleming:
Big Flem was a mainstay of the Gort na Móna Midfield throughout the 1980s and 90s, was a brilliant fielder of the ball, and scored 10 goals a year from midfield, an absolute gentleman and brilliant team mate who just missed out on being part of our stronger era of teams, if he played in this time he would have probably played for Antrim. Formed a formidable axis with my older brother Liam during mid to late 90s as the Gorts’ ‘go to’ players. Marty Ward had a brilliant impact during his short football career and on his day could compete with any player in the league; just ask Joe Quinn from St Pauls who will no doubt remember him from our famous 2007 quarter final victory, but he just misses out here as we didn’t see enough of him for long enough in a football shirt.
9-Gareth Galway (Hammer):
Hammer was a brilliant player for Gort na Móna in our best ever team, had a bit of everything, he was a man mountain, had good hands, could kick a score and played a good foot pass. There is a lot of competition in this position with current mid fielder Christopher Carson a strong candidate, while Big Paul Boyd did well in a good era for us as well, but we will temporarily forgive Hammer for leaving us and just give him a nod for this position.
10-Niall Enright:
Gorts have always had good forwards, both Dermy McVeigh and Brendan Corr would push hard in any team on ability but they have been unable to fully commit over the years, Brendy could be an all-time great if he stopped going on holidays and being so mad; this kid loves breaking tackles like I love Sunday dinners! Mickey Gregory was another brilliant forward from the 1990s era who was quick and dynamic but just misses out (Blatant Favouritism from the selector) as I’m going in here at right half forward were I played in the early part of my career too modest to talk about myself!
Paul Cordner
11-Emmet Hughes:
Centre Half forward in this team is a position I have pondered longest, our Terry Óg Enright was a formidable athlete the toughest guy in the club’s history, had a bit of everything, could catch, kick, tackle, lead, but was robbed from us before his time. Gerard Holden is natural for this position too, another club legend in both codes. Martin Flanagan was a brilliant and clever footballer from just before my time, while Darren ‘Diesel’ Boyd has been a brilliant servant for the club and has real quality on the ball, as good as anyone who has played for club in terms of pure technical ability and quality but he just misses out here. I have went with Emmet Hughes who I grew up with and we stole briefly from Sarsfields. Emmet had everything and was the main play maker in our best team, kicked 45s, frees and was a brilliant long passer of the ball, was strong and quick, just gets the nod at centre half forward.
12- Desy McClean:
This was another really tough call, our Feargal Enright was a brilliant link player who won ugly ball, used it well and chipped in with important scores and was a brilliant team mate for the trenches who I would always want in my team. Colm Keenan is a player who could play anywhere in the half forward line, or half back line and was a brilliant passer. David McErlean has been a brilliant servant for the club and like a fine wine has got better with age and can play anywhere in the forward line and half back line. Nipper Quinn was an outstanding half forward who loved a hit and running at players. I have went however with my all-time favourite dual player Desy ‘the wizard’ McClean. Desy is the most talented natural hurler I have ever seen but he is a brilliant footballer as well. Can run all day, is very slippery and can kick a score, ‘unmarkable’ on his day, would add something different to this team.
13-Michael Pollock:
This will be controversial one for many within our club as Michael left us so early in his career but he played such an important role on our strongest era he cannot be written out of history. He won minor, u21 and intermediate championships with Gort na Móna and has went on to have a brilliant career at St Galls, He should have played for Antrim much more than he did. He shouldn’t have left us and he broke our hearts but he has to be in our best ever 15. There are lots of other good forwards who could got have got in here including two current excellent forwards Paddy McCaff and Poggy McGugh who have been the bedrock of our current successful team, both will make other people’s best 15 but they just miss out on this team.
14-Liam Enright:
Our Liam was Gort na Móna’s best player when I broke onto the scene, he always reminded me of Babe Ruth the great baseball player in that he seemed to just turn up whenever he wanted to and kick points, because he liked to with minimal effort. Strong as a bull and had great hands and could kick off either foot, during the 1990s Liam carried Gort na Móna teams, it should also be noted that along with Rabby Clarke he then became the club’s most successful management team, winning u21 and intermediate championship, and promotion to and maintenance of Division 1 status. First and foremost but Liam was a brilliant player and for me arguably our best ever footballer and our most influential football man within the club.
15-Gerard Holden:
I only played with Gerard at the twilight of his career but ‘Holdy’ can play anything and anywhere, a club legend who was part of the 89 Antrim Hurling Squad that reached the All-Ireland Final, Gerard was also a fine footballer who could do everything – tackle, field, pass, score. In this team he will come out the pitch and roam about the middle sector as an extra play maker leaving Liam and Michael on the edge of the square, on ability and character on the field I would have loved to play alongside Holdy at his best.
Dessie McClean