Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship Preview
By Brendan McTaggart
I didn’t think it was possible, but last weekend was a step up in intensity and excitement from the previous. Leaving Rossa Park I was both bewildered and delighted. Bewildered at what had transpired in the hour and a half previous and delighted that I am privileged to gaze upon the beautiful game. I mentioned it in my report of the game, I really do pity those who know nothing of hurling. The Eighth Wonder of the world and the gift that keeps on giving.
Rumour has it, Chrissy McMahon’s equalising point is still travelling down the Stewardstown Road. Hit from a different time zone and could have gone for another 50 yards. I wrote in my report it was physically and metaphorically it was a gargantuan score for the Cuchullains. They knew they got out of jail in Rossa Park. They got a point from a game they had no right to for long periods. They made changes during the game both in personnel and tactically to somehow get back into the game. Ronan Molloy nullified the threat of James Connolly while having a stormer on the Dunloy half back line.
I say ‘somehow got back into the game’, I’m still not quite sure how it all happened but as I was reminded by Gregory O’Kane at the full time whistle: “Sometimes managers get it right as well.”
Yet it took an act of brilliance from Paul Shiels to spark the Dick Turpin-esque ending in the 15th minute of additional time. There will come a day when Dunloy will no longer have the services of ‘Shorty’, that will be a sorry day. Not just for the Cuchullains but for hurling in general. A genius with the ash and sliotar in his hand and we are blessed to be able to watch him.
Dunloy travel to Corrigan Park on Sunday. Somehow unbeaten and somehow still with their fate in their own hands. The Johnnies have qualified for the next round. Whether that’s straight to the semi’s or a quarter-final berth depends on this contest. The Cuchullains need a win to guarantee their championship rein continues. It all adds to what will be a cracking contest.
St John’s had an outstanding performance from Conor Johnston against Ballycastle. Ominous for the Cuchullains that the younger of the Johnston brothers has hit such imperious form and timing perfect as far as the Corrigan Park men are concerned. An attack as good as anything in the county and a work rate to match. This one is billed as Match of The Day and rightly so. The cameras will be there for those who can’t make it. I’ll be purchasing it so I can re-watch it back.
Twitter is where it all happens these days post-match. I like having a look and gauging reaction after the games – Rossa manager Colly Murphy hit the nail on the head with his response. “We could blame the referee however if that’s the added time then we play to the whistle which we didn’t.” I don’t think there’s anything more his side could have done on the day. They brought an intensity I haven’t saw from a Rossa side in a long time and matched it with a game plan that almost bought them the scalp of the champions.
How they are sitting with one point from two matches right now is one of life’s great mysteries. Playing Cricky McGuinness in full forward has come more by accident than design but the Rossa man has been more than a handful on the edge of the box. Brilliant in the air, he gives another option that combines beautifully with the youthful exuberance of Tiarnan Murphy, the guile of his brother Deaglan and the outrageous talents of Connolly.
The problem Colly Murphy has, and I say problem with tongue in cheek, is Mickey Armstrong. He plays so well in a number of positions, where do you best play him? A ball winner, a point taker, a grafter. I’ve always said I like to see him in the middle third and that’s where he spent the majority of his time against Dunloy. Armstrong on his game could be key for the Jeremiah’s against the luckless Ballycastle.
Neal McAuley thought he’d done the business last Sunday against St Johns when he went for glory from distance. He didn’t and like Dunloy, the Town are unbeaten but winless in this most bizarre of championships. Again, like Dunloy, Ballycastle know a win puts them through to the next round. What round that will be is the conundrum to end all conundrums. The permutations are mind blowing. We’ll leave it that winner takes all in both matches. If there’s more draws then it’s going to get messy.
The other group is more straight forward and as expected, Loughgiel and Cushendall are leading the way. The Shamrocks overwhelmed St Galls with James McNaughton leading the scoring charts as they racked up a big score. They’re in the semis with a game to spare and they travel to the Hightown Road to face a Naomh Éanna side who acquitted themselves well against the Ruairi’s last day out. They made life difficult for Cushendall and signs they are ready to kick on from their Intermediate glory of 12 months ago. Anything other than a win for Hugh McCann’s side will be a major upset but the Mighty Town men will be hoping to maintain their performance levels.
Cushendall and St Galls play off for the first time in the Championship since their 2014 final. This match will determine who finishes second and third in the group but the Ruairi’s will be favourites to take the runner up spot. St Gall’s bring a physicality that will match the ‘Dall but you’d fancy Cushendall to take the honours. It is unsure just how close Neil McManus is to returning to the fold but with Aidan McNaughton hitting form, Shane McNaughton putting the acting scripts to one side for the time being and Paddy McGill firing, they will have too much in their armoury for the Milltown Row Azurri.
Prediction time.
Last weekend I fared only marginally better than the previous week. Two out of four but in my defence, where has all the draws come from this year!?
Here goes. Loughgiel and Cushendall, Dunloy and a Ballycastle and Rossa draw.
That has Dunloy and Loughgiel in the semi’s, quarter-final pairings of St Galls and Cushendall against…..argh, no idea. Enjoy what promises to be a cracking weekend of hurling folks, Corrigan Park for me….I’ll be the one saying a Novena and holding a camera.