A look back at Antrim hurling’s biggest day, summing up what it is all about, both behind scenes and out on the white heat of the battle. It all started for the Saffron Gael team at 13-45 when we arrived at the ground and ended just over four hours later. This is a record of what happened in between!
13-55 – All quiet on the Western front as Corrigan awaits its heroes, the safety stewards have a final meeting and the final touches are added to have the pitch looking spick and span
14-10 – The Volunteer Cup, saved from the scrapheap and looking as good as the day it was first played for, is back on show
14-16 – The Rossa players arrive at Corrigan, St John’s legend Gerry McHugh still handing out the orders. Another valued member of the Saffron Gael team arrives to capture the action. 14-30 – A young hurling fan uses the grass bank to practice his solo runs before the crowd arrive
14-37 – Rossa chairperson Maureen Stewart proudly shows her colours, as indeed does John Eddie O’Kane of Dunloy, while proud granny Mary Murray and her body guards arrive for the game
14-49 – The Dunloy team arrive in Corrigan as the Rossa players go through their warm-up 15-02 – Fr PJ arrives wearing the same hat he wore the day the Cuchullains won their first title in 1990
15-23 – Some more members of the Saffron Gael team – Kevin, Sean Paul, Brendan, Dylan and the main man Bert get ready for the big game
15-32 – The blue and gold colours were prominent in Divis side of the ground and we even got a pic of a Rossa legend
15-36 – Team captains Stehen Beatty of Rossa and Paul Shiels of Dunloy with match referee Mark O’Neill. Mark with his two linesmen Colm McDonald and Ciaran McCloskey
15-38 – The teams follow piper Eamon Downey in the pre-match parade
15-51; 16-09 and 16-14 – The Dunloy full forward line of Seaan Elliott, Conal Cunning and Chrissy McMahon deliver the killer goals to help Dunloy to a ten point lead at the interval.
16-24 – Team captain Lucia McNaughton and the All Ireland Intermediate Camogie champions are introduced to the crowd at half time, plus Fionnuala Kelly, captain of the All Ireland Minor B team who beat Offaly in the final replay two weeks ago. 16-27 – Members of Casement Social Club committee present a cheque for £20,000 to Antrim county chairman Ciaran McCavana during the half time break.
Rossa battle on during the second half and Stephen Beatty grabs a consolation goal, meanwhile despite the heat of the battle Kevin McKeague shows respect for a stricken oppoent when Stephen Beatty goes down with cramp. 17-06 – Dunloy fans pour onto the field at the final whistle
17-08 – The agony and the ecstacy of sport as Dunloy celebrate and heartbroken Rossa players try to take it all in 17-10 – Paul ‘Shorty’ Shiels lifts the Volunteer Cup
17-20 to 17-40 – Photos with family and friends are taken, treasured memories which will be part of the family folklore for years to come.
17-50 – The last two Dunloy players Kevin Mckeague and Kevin Molloy leave the field and head off to the celebrations
