Cushendall’s MHC winning team of 1993 met up again over the Christmas to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the club’s 2nd minor title, and they also gave a nod to the club’s first winning team of 1963

In the year of 1963 we tend to remember certain historical events like the beginning of “The Beatles”. But locally something special also happened when Cushendall “Ruairi Ogs” won their first ever minor championship.

Fast forward thirty years until the Ruairi ogs could repeat that feat once again.

Against all the odds and facing a Loughguile team unbeaten all year they would meet each other in the championship final.
On an extremely breezy Casement Park the Cushendall men would come out on top and bring the minor championship back to the village for only the second time.

The Cushendall team who beat Loughgiel in the 1993 MHC final at Casement Park.

That day would not have been possible without the support of the four young men from Cushendun, Rory McQuillan, Barry O’Hara, Aidan Mort, Brendan Laverty and not forgetting the big man from Ballymena “Special K” Kieran McGaughey.
A special mention has to go to the Cushendall lads. We had low numbers that year but showed great attitude and desire enforced by our management team of Paddy McAteer, Alex McAlister and coached by the fantastic Brian Thompson.

Back in 1993 hurling was certainly different. Trainings wouldn’t be like anything they are today.
From memory back then we had a defence that maybe caused the disappearance of ash in this country, they went through a forest of ash that season alone. The amount of hurls they broke was unbelievable.
They must have been cutting down trees before they even had a chance to mature and I’m convinced at times they could have played some games without a ball lol.

But 30yrs on we met up again to celebrate, talk and reminisce those days and particularly that minor final. It’s amazing that after all this time how a small story can become legendary and be stretched beyond belief.
If you ever spoke to our no.14 that day he could convince you that he scored the greatest goal ever seen on Casement Park….
I believe him

I think it’s easy to speak about past senior teams and their players but it’s important to highlight the young men we grew up with and played alongside that helped push their teammates onto opportunities at senior level.
When you look back at teamsheets of old it’s surprising to see names that some people probably didn’t realise played the game.

All the successes of any senior team comes from the hard work put in down below. We grew up together playing a game we love.
We live in a small village situated in the Glens of Antrim but hurling is the heartbeat.
At some point people you wouldn’t recognise now had a hand in keeping it beating.