By Brendan McTaggart
Beware the wounded animal. With their ‘drive for five’ derailed at the semi final stage 12 months ago, Dunloy return to the final hurdle for the Volunteer Cup on Sunday with a point to prove. A point that was perhaps proven in their performance against Loughgiel two weeks ago.
Dunloy manager Gregory O’Kane, is well used to these occasions at this stage. Sunday will be his sides sixth final since 2017 and the fourth time these two have met in that same period. Dunloy have won their previous three contests. When it comes to knockout hurling in the Antrim championship, this group of Dunloy players know how to get the job done but O’Kane admitted, last year was a step too far for his side: “We probably reached the end of our tether last year and we needed that break. The lads stepped away from the National League and we’re probably seeing the benefits of that now. They’re back and hungrier than ever. They’re all fit and healthy and playing well.”
The Cuchullains have had to deal with dual senior commitments this year again. Much has been said of number of players involved in both codes – mainly 11 and at times 12 starting in both 15’s, but O’Kane said he feels they’ve dealt with the round robin well: “The round robin has always been about getting through it, managing the players workload, and keeping players fresh and injury free.
“The footballers were unlucky against St Brigid’s. I felt that if that game had gone on for another five or so minutes, they could have won that game. It was tough on the lads.”
Against Cushendall in the last round of group games, the Ruairi’s underlined their champions credentials in a dominant display. Dunloy never met the challenge and paid as O’Kane said, they paid the price: “We weren’t good enough and we know that ourselves. We know that we’ll need to be better on Sunday but look, every game and every championship game is different.”
That defeat meant the Cuchullains played in the quarter finals and a game against a Ballycastle side who relished the opportunity of causing an upset. O’Kane said that while they weren’t at their best, he saw signs of his side clicking into gear: “It was the first time this group of players have played in the quarter finals and to be fair, Ballycastle gave us our fill of it. They hurled well but I always felt like when they got close then we found another gear.”
Their semi-final against Loughgiel laid to rest some of the demons from 12 months ago. Dunloy played with precision and a slick brand of hurling that saw them reach serious heights in 2022. It wasn’t a complete performance but the Dunloy manager said: “It was the right time for this group to play Loughgiel. After the Ballycastle game, we’d put in a serious amount in the training pitch and it all came to fruition that day. We looked more like ourselves and it was very pleasing to see that performance and the lads getting their rewards for the efforts they’ve put in.”
Although the bookies favourites for Sunday’s final, O’Kane said Dunloy are concentrating on themselves and ensuring they are in the right frame of mind come 2pm on Sunday: “We’re in a county final and that’s exactly where we set out at the start of the year to be. The lads have put in the effort and all we want is for them to be the best version of themselves they can be. If they do that then it’s left it God’s grace but we’re looking forward to it.”
