Davitt’s chairman Tommy Shaw throws in the ball at the start of the Antrim v Tipperary game at Pairc Davitt
A year (and a day) ago the 2019 All Ireland champions Tipperary came to Belfast to play Antrim in a game to mark the opening of the magnificent new ground at Davitt’s. The weather was certainly a lot kinder that it is this year as the fans were able to sit out on the grassy banks and watch the action as the Saffrons and the Premier County played out a thrilling draw. A challenge match it may have been, but it was played with a competitive edge and the fans thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards the Tipperary players stayed on the pitch and signed autographs for the fans, their captain Seamus Callanan going above and beyond the call of duty by staying out for almost an hour.
A great day for everyone at Pairc Davitt, especially for club chairman Tommy Shaw and his hard working committee who had had striven for years to build their new facilities.
These hurling fans are a hard lot. There was rumours of a storm approaching but it didn’t phase them as they sat on the grass banks watching the action
James McNaughton breaks through for the second of his two goals
Enda O’Sullivan from Nenagh Co Tipperary, the home town of the late Fr Alec Reid whom the cup for yesterday’s game was named after. Enda is the PRO for the Tipperary footballers who were playing Derry on Sunday in the NFL Div 3 but came up a day early to cover the hurlers because of the Fr Reid’s connection
Ruairi Og fan Ciara Campbell stormed into Davitt’s yesterday claiming the storm was named after her. Thankfully the other Ciara held off her visit until the game was over
These four firemen from Belfast International airport were there to see their work colleague Michael Bradley in action. They claimed they had to do all his work during the week so he would be in shape for the game
On Saturday evening Lámh Dhearg held their Appreciation and Annual Awards and presentation evening.
Lockdown restrictions have prevented clubs coming together to and holding their annual presentation evenings- a popular event in any club calendar.
But Lámh Dhearg showed innovation and decided to go virtual and held it via zoom and it was a great success.
Families were able to gather in the comfort of their own homes and were entertained by popular club member and musician Seamy McPeake, along with daughters Katie and Lucy.
In between the McPeake’s magnificent entertainment the virtual award winners were announced by compere for the evening- Paul Buchannan.
In the ladies football category Caoimhe Whinnery was named Gaelic For Mothers and Others player of the year, Aoibheann Larkin minor football and Ciara Docherty scooped the senior ladies award.
Daniel Murray was named Minor hurler of year, Tiernan McKenna U-21, Darren O’Brien reserve hurling and Aidan McGuigan claimed the senior hurler of the year accolade.
In the football awards Lee Clarke was named minor footballer of the year, Eoin Matassa U-21, Francis Dugan reserve and Declan Lynch senior footballer of the year.
Dee McLaughlin was recognised for his contribution towards his promotion of culture The development award recognised the tireless work of parents Karen Cleland, Anne-Marie Camlin, Roseann McGowan and Jenny McGuigan.
The Club person of the Year award was presented to Stevie Bunting junior while the Hall of Fame recipient was posthumously awarded to Michael Herron Senior -following in the footsteps of younger brother Jim who received the honour in 2019.
The highly enjoyable, successful and well attended night was concluded by Chairman Peter Kane thanking all the members for their commitment in a very surreal night .
A big thanks go to the committee- led by chairman Peter Kane- for their organisation of a fantastic evening and Brian Smyth for his diligence and commitment in co ordinating the awards so well.
The success of the night can be best reflected by a sample of many comments posted on social media
Patrick McQuillan Well done to everyone involved in bringing this about and to the winners god how things have changed from our day xx
Micky Armstrong @lamhdhearg awards night , well done to all recipients & fair playto organisers and Seamy for the brilliant entertainment
Caoimhe Nic Craith Brilliant night, well done to everyone involved in organising and running the event. Congratulations to the award winners 👏👏
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Kieran Megraw Well done to all the award winners and to organisers
Barney Herron A fantastic night well delivered. Thanks to committee for recognising my big brother Mickey Rip with Hall of fame award.
Today we take a look back at Con Magee’s GAC Glenravel presentation evening where ther County Chairman, Jim Murray and Naill Kearney from North Antrim were the special guests. The Glenravel club had quite a bit of silverware on show at a very well attended event.
The Best boys from Antrim’s 1943 team were cousins of George
By John McIlwaine
Back in 1989 when Antrim qualified for the All Ireland final I did a lot of research into the team who had qualified for the final forty six years earlier in 1943. In the team photo taken on the day in Croke Park there were two Bests, one of them Tommy, who was was the team trainer, while the other one, Willie, a son of Tommy, was a sub on the team.
The colourised photo of Bishop Mageean meeting the Antrim and Cork players before the 1943 All Ireland final.
I remember at the time there were lots of stories going around that they were related to the great Manchester United star George Best, but I was never able to confirm the fact. However when I posted the colourised photo of Bishop Mageean meeting the teams before the 1943 final it attacted a lot of interest, and a good few of the children and grandchildren of players on the team got in touch offering a few snippets of information and correcting some mistakes I had made.
Team trainer Tommy Best is second from the left on the back row, while Willie Best is second from the right on the front row in this photo of the Antrim 1943 team.
One of those who contacted me was Maura Best, daughter of the aforementioned Willie Best and grandaughter of Tommy. She was pointing out where they were in the photo, but thoughts turned right away to those stories about them being related to George, so I messaged her back and ask if there was any truth in it.
The following day Maura got back to confirm that George was indeed a cousin and also that she was related to a famous name in Antrim GAA, Liam Harvey, the man who the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship trophy is named after.
George Best playing for Manchester United in his prime prime in the 1960’s
Maura wrote,
” My dad’s mother was Jane Harvey, a sister of Liam Harvey. She married Tommy Best, my dad’s father. Tommy was the brother of George’s grandfather Jimmy Best, so George’s father Dicky and my dad’s were, first cousins.
Tommy married Jane Harvey and they started married life in the shadow of the shipyard where my dad was born. They soon moved to the Falls Road where Tommy (Granddad Best) got involved with GAA. Both of his sons Willie and Kevin played hurling. Willie, who was my late dad, played for a team which I think was called O’Connell’s.So there you have it – a slice of Best family history combined with Antrim hurling history.”
I would like to thank Maura sincerely for her assistance with the story, answereing my queries over the past couple of weeks and getting me the photos I requested. She has been really helpful and nothing was ever too much trouble for her.
When Dunloy made their hurling breakthrough in 1990 there were many pundits who felt that would go on and win the next five or six titles, so impressive was their young side. However Cushendall had other ideas and it was them, not Dunloy, who showed their class to take the next three in a row. During that time there were many great games between the two but one game really stands out. In 1993 they met in the quarter-final of the championship in Loughgiel and while both teams had the chance of booking that final spot, but in the end the honours were shared and they had to meet again the following week.
Justin McCarthy
Former Cork star Justin McCarthy, who was part of the Dunloy backroom team that day, said afterwards that it was the best game of club hurling had seen in over twenty years, high praise indeed.
This is the match report and photos from the Ballymena Chronicle two days later.
Cushendall (Holders) – 3-11
Dunloy – 1-17
County hurling champions Cushendall, and the team whom most pundits tip to take over their mantle, Dunloy, played out a thrilling draw on Sunday evening at Fr Healey Park, Loughgiel in the quarter-final of the Senior Hurling Championship.
In one of the best games of hurling seen in Antrim for long and many a d day, the champions and the challengers produced a second half of sheer brilliance which kept the large crowd enthralled right up to the final whistle. The game started slowly but as the first half progressed the tempo picked up, while the second half was sheer class from start to finish.
Cushendall could have had the game won at half time but poor finishing (they shot nine first half wides) let them down. Dunloy appeared to be well on their way when they went three points up with just six minutes left for play, but they were hit by two superb points from Alastair McGuile and had to produce a storming finish to earn a replay.
Despite the fact there had be rain for most of the day before the game and that a Senior Reserve game had been played beforehand, the Loughgiel pitch was in excellent condition. The surface was a little slippery and not surprisingly both teams took a little while to settle. Cushendall adjusted quicker and after Paddy Walsh had put them ahead from a 65, Danny McNaughton added one from play to put them two ahead. Dunloy drew level with two pointed frees from Gregory O’Kane, but the Cushendall forwards were stretching the Dunloy defence and from one of the openings they created Shane Elliott had to make a great save to deny Terence McNaughton a goal.
‘Feet’ McAlister is the meat in the sandwich between Dunloy’s Alastair Elliott and Jarlath McGrath.
Still the champions kept up the pressure and three quick points from Paddy Walsh, John Carson and Conor McCambridge game them a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. They should have gone further ahead but wayward shooting let them down and Dunloy took advantage to pull back two points through Alastair Elliott and Seamus McMullan.
Nearing half-time Cushendall went three clear again when Jackie Carson sent over a free and Mark McCambridge scored from play, but before the short whistle Seamus McMullan cut Dunloy’s deficit to two (0-7 to 0-5) when he sent over from a ‘65’.
A pointed free from close range and a massive effort from almost 80 yards by Seamus McMullan had Dunloy level two minutes after the restart and the scene was set for an absorbing second half. A point by Cushendall’s right half forward Conor McCambridge restored the ‘Dall lead and less that a minute later they went four ahead when a long ball from out on the wing by Terence McNaughton was misjudged by Shane Elliott in the Dunloy goal and ended up in the back of the net.
Dunloy were shaken but they fought back with two pointed frees from Gregory O’Kane and one from play by Jarlath Elliott to cut the gap back to one. Terence McNaughton pointed for Cushendall to open the gap to two, but just at the end of the third quarter Jarlath Elliott scrambled in a goal after a long ball by Eamon McKee caused confusion in the ‘Dall defence.
The lead was short lived as Monty McCambridge broke away on the right wing and sent over the equaliser, but Dunloy, who now had Alastair Elliott in the half forward line, were starting to gain the advantage. Elliott hit two points in as many minutes and his brother Jarlath added another to put the 1990 champions three clear with just nine minutes left on the clock.
Conor ‘Monty’ McCambridge in action against Dunloy’s Sean ‘Patch’ Mullan
Those last minutes must have doubled the heart rates of both sets of supporters as the excitement rose to fever-pitch. The goal which saw Cushendall draw level in the 52nd minute was a superb effort from corner forward Alastair McGuile. Conor McCambridge had again worked the opening, but the long ball he sent in around the Dunloy goalmouth appeared to be going wide. However McGuile ran across from the left corner and somehow flicked it back over his head at full stretch and into the Dunloy net.
Big John Carson gave Cushendall back the lead, but Dunloy’s best forward Gregory O’Kane split the uprights once again to restore parity for the fifth time. Just when the Cuchullains thought they had weathered the storm McGuile struck once again. Jackie Carson cut in along the endline and as he struggled to keep possession he sent the ball in across the goals where McGuile met it perfectly and drilled it low to the Dunloy net to put his side three clear with seven minutes to go.
Dunloy had it all to do again, but they met the challenge well and two more points from ‘Dick’ O’Kane frees left them just one behind with just four minutes left to play. A minute later an Alastair Elliott shot came back off the upright and ‘Nipper’ McKee raced in to fire it over the bar…..it could easily have been a goal. Dunloy had two chances to win the game but Alastair Elliott and Gary O’Kane shot wide from good positions while at the other end Alastair McNaughton had and even easier chance of sealing the win for the ‘Dall with practically the last puc of the game, but he too was off target and so they must do it all again.
Dunloy’s Tony McGrath sends the ball towards the Cushendall square
Overall a great game, played in a fine sporting spirit. For county team manager Jim Nelson, who wanted the game off because of the risk of injury to players involved in next week’s All Ireland Quarter final against Meath. Thankfully all his players came through relatively unscathed.
For the champions ‘Feet’ McAlister, ‘Gaza’ McCambridge, James McNaughton and the little Maestro Leonard McKeegan were superb in defence. The midfield pairing of Mark McCambridge and Paddy Walsh more than held their own while in the forwards Cushendall have found a new star in nineteen year old Conor McCambridge just edges Leonard McKeegan for man of the match. Terence McNaughton and John Carson were in great form up front, while Alaister McGulie’s two goals were superb.
The Dunloy defence struggled for long periods, though Dominic and Seamus McMullan played very well in the second half. Both midfielders had their good spells with Tony McGrath showing best just before half time and Nigel Elliott most prominent in the second period. Gregory O’Kane was Dunloy’s best forward, though Alastair Elliott played much better when moved out to the half forward line, where he had a great last quarter.
Cushendall scorers – Alastair McGuile 2-0; Terence McNaughton 1-1; Conor McCambridge 0-3; John Carson 0-3; Paddy Walsh 0-2; Mark McCambridge 0-1; Danny McNaughton 0-1.
CUSHENDALL – Kieran McNaughton, Brendan McAlister, Aidan McAteer, Kieran McCambridge, James McNaughton, Leonard McKeegan, Fergal McNaughton, Paddy Walsh, Mark McCambridge, Conor McCambridge, John Carson, Alastair McNaughton, Alastair McGuile, Terence McNaughton, Danny McNaughton.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
DUNLOY – Shane Elliott, Brian Og Cunning, Dominic McMullan. Sean McIhatton, Frankie McMullan, Seamus McMullan, Sean Mullan, Tony McGrath, Nigel Elliott, Gregory O’Kane, Gary O’Kane, Eamon McKee, Jarlath McGrath, Jarlath Elliott, Alastair Elliott
Referee – Tommy McIntyre. (Loughgiel)
Two of the great stars of 90s Gary O’Kane and Leonard McKeegan wrap their hurls around each other as the battle under a dropping ball in the 1993 quarter final in Loughgiel
