Ulster Club Hurling Championship Final
Dunloy 2-12 Slaughtneil 0-16
Sunday 4 December
Brendan McTaggart reports from the Athletic Grounds, Armagh
The Athletic Grounds played host to another titanic tussle between Dunloy and Slaughtneil that went right to the death. An hour of massive hits, huge intensity and incredible desire and in the end, it was the Cuchullains who finally got over the line against the reigning champions to join Cushendall at the top of the Ulster roll of honour on 11 titles.
Two points was the difference at the end of the game and the hour that preceded was every bit as close as the score line would suggest. Dunloy’s two goals came in the first half and saw them take a deserving five point lead at the short whistle but Slaughtneil showed their champions pedigree in the second period. Six points in the first 10 minutes of the second half from the Derry champions brought them to within touching distance of the Cuchuallins and when Shane McGuigan fired over his second point of the game in the 47thminute, the sides were tied.
Dunloy dug deep in the closing stages however. The introduction of Deaglan Smith, Paul Shiels and Nicky McKeague all having a positive impact on the game as the Cuchullains found something extra in the closing stages.
The two goals proved pivotal in the end, Oisin O’Doherty certainly unlucky to deflect the sliotar into his own goal but there was nothing lucky about Nigel Elliott’s major in first half injury time. Collecting the sliotar and leaving Meehaul McGrath in his wake before firing to the back of the net.
While the goals will be highlighted as game changing, Ryan Elliott’s heroics at the other end of the pitch should be lauded. Two huge saves, the second to deflect a rasping drive from Brian Cassidy away that proved to be a huge play. While Cormac O’Doherty pointed the resulting ’65, Dunloy got their second major with their next attack.
In a game where Dunloy were without their talisman Paul Shiels from the start, they needed leaders to step up. They found them all over the pitch on a day where they showed incredible desire, commitment and intensity to match their hurling skills. Defensively they were superb. A hugely impressive number of turnover ball in the opening half that saw them restrict Slaughtneil to just one point in a 17 minute spell that saw the Cuchullains take control in the first half. The tone set from the moment Kevin Molloy rocked Brendan Rodgers with a huge shoulder when the Slaughtneil man had Ryan Elliott’s goals in his sight.
Ryan McGarry came in for some stick for his performance in the Antrim final against Cushendall but he was superb on the edge of his own square and was ably assisted by Eamon Smith and Aaron Crawford.
The platform was set in the first half for the Cuchullains to banish the pain of past defeats to Slaughtneil. Mickey McShane’s men were always going to have a purple patch in the second half and ask another question of Dunloy, the winning of the match would come down to how the Cuchullains reacted to that Slaughtneil pressure.
Nigel Elliott firest in his team’s second goal before turning away in celebration
The purple patch arrived soon after Conal Cunning fired over his fifth point of the game just after the restart. Slaughtneil were suddenly first to every breaking ball and the Cuchullains were forced to dig deep.
Inspirational scores came to give Gregory O’Kane’s men a boost of adrenaline when they needed it. Aaron Crawford from wide on the left, far from renowned for his attacking prowess but he split the uprights under pressure. Conal Cunning also from distance and wide on the right while Dealan Smith’s score was another glimpse of the natural ability he has. A player who has been plagued with injuries at the most inopportune times of recent years, his score came at a huge time as Dunloy kept the score board ticking and edging ahead every time Slaughtneil came close.
With the game in the balance and Slaughtneil’s pressure increasing on the Dunloy defence, they went in search of the goal that would break Dunloy’s heart at the death. Rodgers with a glimpse before Ryan McGarry put his body on the line to block his drive.
Nicky McKeague landed Dunloy’s final score of the hour in 57th minute, another massive point to keep Dunloy ahead. Slaughtneil continued to push but all they could muster was a point from Chrissy McKaigue before Meehaul McGrath saw red in injury time.
Dunloy bridged a gap of 13 years since the Four Seasons Cup resided at Pearse Park. On a day where they needed a perfect storm to dethrone Slaughtneil, Dunloy played with the memory of past defeats and showed a hunger that comes from learning from that hurt. An overwhelming outpour of emotion engulfed the Athletic Grounds pitch at the final whistle. Epic scenes that will live long in the memory of all the Cuchullains who have reached the pinnacle of the game within Ulster for a 11th time.
The small matter of an All Ireland semi-final lays in wait with plenty from St Thomas’ in attendance in Armagh but for now, the Cuchullains are back to top of the tree in Ulster.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Ryan McGarry, Oran Quinn; Aaron Crawford, Kevin Molloy, Eamon Smyth; Conor Kinsella, Eoin McFerran; Ronan Molloy, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott; Seaan Elliott, Conal Cunning, Anton McGrath
Subs: Deaglan Smith for S Elliott (40); Nicky McKeague for A McGrath (50); Paul Shiels for C Kinsella (53)
Scorers: Oisin O’Doherty 1-00 (own goal); C Cunning 0-7 (3f); N Elliott 1-1; A McGrath, A Crawford, N McKeague, D Smith 0-1 each
Slaughtneil: Oisin O’Doherty; Paul McNeill, Karl McKaigue, Chrissy McKaigue; Ruairi O Mannion, Conor McAllister, Meehaul McGrath; Shane McGuigan, Cormac O’Doherty; Peter McCullagh, Brian Cassidy, Gerald Bradley; Brendan Rodgers, Jerome McGuigan, Shea Cassidy
Subs: Se McGuigan for P McCullagh (40)
Scorers: C O’Doherty 0-5 (4f 1’65); G Bradley 0-3; Shane McGuigan 0-2; B Rodgers 0-2; C McKaigue 0-1; B Cassidy 0-1; J McGuigan 0-1; S Cassidy 0-1
Referee: Peter Owens (Down)
Dunloy players celebrate with the young fans at the end of the game.
