All roads lead to the Millennium Centre in Loughgiel on Thursday evening at the Shamrocks and Antrim legend Niall Patterson lauches his autobiography “Field of Brothers” . The man who guarded the Antrim goals in 1989 when the Saffrons beat Offaly in the All Ireland semi-final and the man who guided his home club Loughgiel Shamrocks to All Ireland club glory against St Rynagh’s of Offaly in 1983 has been working with Seamus Maloney on this book over the past couple of years. The Covid lockdown delayed matters, as it did every other thing in society over the past couple of years, but everything is now ready to go.
Niall Patterson was one member of a Field of Brothers who fought longer, and harder, than any other group of hurlers to gain the respect of the entire country. A Field of Brothers who were born to be hurlers.
Brothers who were reared as hurlers, and fed on a love for the game which rivalled any other corner of Ireland. In 1989, the Antrim team magnificently led by Jim Nelson, presented itself in Croke Park as one of the most courageous and talented hurling teams of the modern era,
On that team was Niall Patterson… ‘Big Niall’.
He was the largest figure on the GAA’s national stage, and magnificent last line of defence for The Saffrons for well over a decade. He admitted to being four or five stones above his fighting weight during that brilliant summer when Antrim knocked Offaly out of their way in claiming an historic All-Ireland final spot. But Niall Patterson possessed a determination to prove himself the best goalkeeper in the land.
He made his senior debut for Antrim in 1979, and still commanded his line in 1992 when he retired from the county stage. He won 3 Ulster titles with his county, and 2 All-Ireland B titles. In addition, he captained his club Loughgiel Shamrocks to the All-Ireland Championship in 1983.
Niall Patterson has also been a full- time musician for the last 40 years, and has gigged throughout the north of Ireland.
Niall Patterson with the Loughgiel team who beat St Rynagh’s of Offaly in the replay of the 1983 All Ireland Club final at Casement Park. Pic by John McIlwaine