Category / Senior Hurling Championship

by thesaffrongael

Boyle Major Helps Shamrocks Seal Opening Win

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 2

Ballycastle 0-15 Loughgiel 1-19

Sunday 16 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc MacUílín

Loughgiel saw off the dogged resistance of Ballycastle on Sunday evening to get their championship campaign off to a winning start.  Seven points was the difference at the end of the hour, in truth it felt a lot closer. 

Ballycastle hustled, tackled, harried the Shamrocks, denying them any opportunity to gather momentum for the majority of the game.  The one period of the game where they didn’t, was ultimately the winning of the game.

Loughgiel lead by one point at half time but a run of 1-4 without reply in the opening eight minutes of the second half put the Shamrocks in control.  Paul Boyle with the major in a rare moment of fluidity in a game that would be best described as a war of attrition.

When The Town woke from their half time slumber, they hit six of the next seven scores and left just the goal between the sides.  Loughgiel finished well though, splitting the uprights five times in the last eight minutes to take the honours.

The Town were best served by Conor Boyd, Ardan Kelly and Cathair Donnelly in the game while Croistai McAuley top scored with six white flags.  The Shamrocks had 10 different names on the score sheet by the end of the hour but the number of wides would be cause for concern for the Loughgiel management.  James McNaughton showed glimpses of his best, more so as the game went into the melting pot after Ballycastle second half renaissance.  Defensively, they were solid with the half back trio of Ruairi McCormick, Declan McCloskey and Ben McGarry all excelling.

In a first half that felt very stop-start, neither side played with any great fluency.  The Shamrocks opened the scoring with points from Roan McGarry and Rian McMullan before Conor Boyd split the uprights for his first of three points.  Collecting the sliotar on the run after Niall McKenna showed brilliant awareness and fed the sliotar in his direction.

Croistai McAuley split the posts either side of a Ronan ‘Rosey’ Fitzgerald point before a brace of scores from Roan McGarry (free) and Jack McCloskey put three between the sides after the opening quarter.

Diarmuid McShane cut that deficit with a point after showing his pace to get in front of the Loughgiel defender but while both defences were on top and space few and far between, both sides, Loughgiel especially were guilty of missing the target.

Roan McGarry and Croistai McAuley swapped frees before a point from Ronan Laverty reduced the Loughgiel lead to the minimum by the 23rd minute.

The Town had the first sight of goal moments later when Croistai McAuley found substitute Cadhan Crawford but his effort was saved superbly by Cormac McFadden who put his body on the line.  Diving at the Ballycastle man and taking the full force of the sliotar, it was a moment of bravery and kept his side ahead in the closing stages of the first half.

Ballycastle’s Cadhan Crawford is on goal but Loughgiel goalkeeper Cormac McFadden through himself at the ball to keep his goal intact

Croistai McAuley fired over his third free and fourth point of the match to tie the sides before a quick piece of thinking between James McNaughton and Declan McCloskey saw McNaughton get his second point of the half and give the Shamrock a 0-8 to 0-7 lead at half time.

The home side would have been the happier going in to the changing room at the short whistle given the elements would be in their favour for the second half.  The Shamrocks were wasteful and should have had a healthy advantage at the interval but the game was still very much in the balance at the break.

Any thoughts of Ballycastle causing an early upset in the championship were dispelled shortly after the restart however.  Roan McGarry scored his fourth free of the match before Boyle scored the only goal of the game in the 32nd minute.  Collecting a long delivery from Declan McCloskey, Boyle had stole in front of Conal Colgan and only had goal on his mind.  His finish was emphatic and lifted the spirits of the Shamrocks in attendance at Páirc MacUílín. 

Roan McGarry picks off a point for Loughgiel

They would add further points from a McNaughton ’65 and a delightful side line cut from Ryan ‘Betty’ McKee saw them stretch their lead to eight.

It was all one way traffic in those early moments of the second half but the home side responded well.  Points from Eoin McAlonan, Conor Boyd and Cadhan Crawford got the Town firing again.  Crawford’s point showcasing his skills with a lovely first touch before firing over from wide on the left.

Another Conor Boyd score gave his side a sniff of a comeback with a quarter of the game remaining and Ballycastle on the hunt but a fine score from Ruairi McCormick looked to get the Shamrocks firing again.

Ryan ‘Betty’ McKee sends over great point from a sideline ‘cut’ during the second half

Croistai McAuley (two frees) and Niall McKenna fired over with Paul Boyle the sole response from Loughgiel to leave three between the sides.  It was as close as Ballycastle got however as Loughgiel finished strongly. 

The Town always looked like they needed a goal but the Loughgiel defence were strong and organised and never looked like yielding the opportunity.  The Shamrocks would finish the game with a brace of points from Shan McGrath, McNaughton (two) and Declan McCloskey while a sole point from Eoin McAlonan was the only response from the home side in the time that remained.

Ballycastle will next play county champions St John’s in Ballymena while Loughgiel will travel to Randalstown to play Rossa on the same day in two weeks time.

Ballycastle centre back Conor Boyd sends over a point

TEAMS

Ballycastle Starting XV: Eamon Elliott; Oran Kearney, Conal Colgan, Cathair Donnelly; Darragh Donnelly, Conor Boyd, Eoin McAlonan; Ronan Laverty, Ronan McCarry; Croistai McAuley, Seamus McAuley, Darragh Kelly; Ardan Kelly, Niall McKenna, Diarmuid McShane

  • Subs: Cadhan Crawford for R McCarry (20); Neal McAuley for D Kelly (41); Niall McClean for R Laverty (53); Mark McClean for A Kelly (60)
  • Scorers: C McAuley 0-6 (5f); C Boyd 0-3; E McAlonan 0-2; R Laverty 0-1; N McKenna 0-1; D McShane 0-1; C Crawford 0-1

Loughgiel Starting XV: Cormac McFadden; Rory McCloskey, Enda Og McGarry, Liam Glackin; Ruairi McCormick, Declan McCloskey, Ben McGarry; Ryan McKee, James McNaughton; Rian McMullan, Ronan Fitzgerald, Dan McCloskey; Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Jack McCloskey

  • Subs: Tiernan Coyle for E Og McGarry (HT); Shan McGrath for J McCloskey (HT); Christy McGarry for R Fitzgerald (48); Eoin McGarry for R McGarry (55); Caolan Blair for D McCloskey (60)
  • Scorers: J McNaughton 0-6 (1f, 1’65); R McGarry 0-4 (4f); P Boyle 1-1; S McGrath 0-2; J McCloskey 0-1, R Fitzgerald 0-1, R McMullan 0-1, R McKee 0-1, D McCloskey 0-1, R McCormick 0-1

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

Loughgiel centre back Declan McCloskey punches the air as he watches his shot fly over the Ballycastle crossbar late in the game

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Pep Shines As Ruairi’s Blitz Naomh Éanna

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Group Two

Naomh Éanna 0-12 Cushendall 3-23

Saturday 15 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Hightown

Cushendall sent out an early championship warning to the rest of the county as they dispatched Naomh Éanna with consummate ease on Saturday evening.  A 20 point win, nearly as many in wides and a scintillating performance from Joseph ‘Pep’ McLaughlin.

The Cushendall ace marksman finished the game with 1-13 beside his name before being taken off with a little under 10 minutes of the game remaining.  To say McLaughlin was unmarkable would be an understatement.  The Midas touch?  Perhaps, it was certainly as close to the perfect performance from an inside forward as I have seen in quite some time.  He was that good in every facet of the game with his attacking movement, touch, bringing others into play along with his scoring exploits.

The only blot on an otherwise top performance for the Ruairi’s was the red card given to Eoghan Campbell in the 45th minute.  Hi action was borne out of frustration, he saw red for a strike much to the disbelief of those of a Cushendall persuasion on the Hightown Road.  Cushendall’s response?  Joseph McLaughlin sending a sideline cut over the bar from roughly 30 yards out.

All the majors came in the first half with Pep turning provider for Ed McQuillan while Ryan McCambridge struck a powerful effort in first half injury time, capping a powerful yet serene first half by a Cushendall side who had seven of their u21s in their starting team and brought another three on in the second half.

It was a disappointing evening for Naomh Éanna who struggled with the pace and power of Cushendall.  Their defence was overworked and they got little change out of a solid Cushendall back six.  Cormac Jennings finished top of their scoring charts with seven white flags while Ruairi Donaghy chipped in with a couple but this was pretty much all one way traffic once the first Cushendall goal went in on the seventh minute.

The home side did make a bright start to the game with points from Cian O’Connor and Donaghy splitting the uprights.  Cushendall and Thomas McLaughlin opened their account before Ryan McCambridge and Sean McAfee combined to put Joseph McLaughlin through on goal and he made no mistake.

Cormac Jennings and Donaghy split the uprights in response to leave the sides tied in the eighth minute but Cushendall went through the gears and limited Naomh Éanna to just four further points for the remainder of the half.

Points from Joseph McLaughlin, McQuillan and Woodhouse preceded the Ruairi’s second goal.  Pep’s pass for McQuillan a highlight of the first half before McQuillan hammered his shot low and to the back of the net. Points from Jennings came either side of a brace of points from Joseph McLaughlin but a further four points in as many minutes from Cushendall put real daylight between the sides.  Three from Joseph McLaughlin and McCambridge with the other.

Jenning’s raised white flags either side of scores from Charlie McAuley and Thomas McLaughlin before the Ruairi’s third goal from McCambridge.  Woodhouse initially with the chance but his shot was blocked, Joseph McLaughlin recycled to McCambridge and he made no mistake with a powerful strike without taking the sliotar into his hand to leave the score 3-12 to 0-8 at the short whistle.

Despite Naomh Éanna scoring the opening point of the second half through Chris Roberts – a quite brilliant score from wide on the left and under pressure, Cushendall continued on their merry way.  Going through the gears early in the second half and playing with an unrelenting accuracy in their play. 

Woodhouse had a glimpse of goal for Cushendall’s opening score but Naomh Éanna goal keeper Martin Curran deflected the sliotar over the bar.  Cormac Jennings split the uprights in the 35th minute with his sixth white flag of the evening  but it would be fully 20 minutes before the home side would register another score.

Four points in as many minutes from Joseph McLaughlin and another from Charlie McAuley stretched the Cushendall lead even further before Eoghan Campbell received his marching orders.  Looking to break from his own defence, Campbell was being fouled and while advantage was being played, Campbell reacted.  Tempers flared, players got involved and referee Tumelty took action.  The game threatened to boil over with Cushendall incensed with the decision but calm heads prevailed and Cushendall maintained their dominance.

The red card had little impact on the game, it was hard to see where the spare Naomh Éanna player was on the pitch given the work rate of the Cushendall players.  Joseph McLaughlin’s side line cut and a further brace of points along with Woodhouse’s third of the match made it nine points unanswered for the Ruairi’s and their lead was out to 21 with eight minutes remaining.

The Ruairi’s only added one more point in the time that remained, Joseph McNaughton with a free while Cormac Jennings (free) and Manus Mullan added scores for the home side.

Naomh Éanna will hope for better when they meet Dunloy in two weeks (Sunday), Ahoghill the neutral venue set for that one while Ballycastle will host Cushendall and Glenariffe on the same day.

TEAMS

Naomh Éanna Starting XV: Martin Curran; Aaron Quinn, Diarmuid Maguire, Ciaran McAllister; Cian O’Connor, Malachi McGibbon, Thomas Mooney; Oisin Quinn, Luke O’Connor; Manus Mullan, Cormac Jennings, Ruairi Donaghy; Frank Kane, Ronan Eager, Joe Maskey

  • Subs: Eoin Maguire for A Quinn (30); Chris Roberts for R Eager (HT); Joe Mackin for C McAllister (51); R Eager for T Mooney (56)
  • Scorers: C Jennings 0-7 (4f, 1’65); R Donaghy 0-2; C O’Connor 0-1; M Mullan 0-1; C Roberts 0-1

Cushendall Starting XV: Conor McAllister; Conor McCann, Liam Gillan, Fred McCurry; Scott Walsh, Austin Birt, Charlie McAuley; Eoghan Campbell, Callagh Mooney; Thomas McLaughlin, Ed McQuillan, Ryan McCambridge; Oisin Woodhouse, Sean McAfee, Joseph McLaughlin

  • Subs: Joseph McNaughton for E McQuillan (Blood Sub 28, reversed at HT); Nicholas McLaughlin for S McAfee (47); Joseph McNaughton for J McLaughlin (52); Alex McCambridge for C McCann (57)
  • Scorers: J McLaughlin 1-13 (4f); R McCambridge 1-1; E McQuillan 1-1; O Woodhouse 0-3; T McLaughlin 0-2; C McAuley 0-2; J McNaughton 0-1 (1f)

Referee: Paddy Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME, CLICK ON THE LINK…

https://myalbum.com/album/WgDPZZBpihaxVs/?invite=4b18ac03-850f-41cd-88a4-8d2d7c94302e

by thesaffrongael

All Square Between Belfast’s Big Two

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Group 1

St John’s 0-20 Rossa 1-17

Friday 14 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park

As far as championship openers go, it wasn’t bad, was it?  Champions St John’s hosted their nearest and dearest, playing out a second half thriller.  Rossa looked like they had avenged their quarter final defeat in the 2025 championship with the help of an early Daire Murphy goal and a first half that seen the Shaws Road men play with an intensity the Johnnies couldn’t reach.

Gerard Cunningham’s men hit back in the second half and showed their championship pedigree and character.  Despite playing against the wind, there was almost an inevitability about them getting their equalising score.  What wasn’t inevitable was Oisin MacManus missing a free in the seventh minute of additional time at the end of the hour.

MacManus had been superb from placed ball, raising the white flag on 11 occasions.  His strike would have given the home side the lead for the first time in the contest and while it was far from a ‘gimme’, it looked like the champions were going to break Rossa hearts once more. 

It didn’t happen.  His effort looked to tail to the right of the posts and while the St John’s players protested, referee Mark O’Neill confirmed the decision with his umpires.  A dramatic ending to an intense second half that had a bit of everything you love to see in championship hurling.

Brilliant scores, super catches, turnovers, chances spurned and the odd off the ball incident.  It wouldn’t be a contest between the real Big Two of Belfast if there wasn’t.  In fairness, it was a game that was played with championship intensity with the odd lose hurl ‘left in’ but nothing that warranted serious attention from the officials.

The honours were shared, deservedly so?  Possibly.  Rossa did pass up on a lot of chances in the second half with a plethora of wides and efforts dropping short.  Each missed opportunity seemingly breathing life into the home sides challenge.

The game was just 11 seconds old when the only goal of the game was scored.  Daire Murphy breaking free and firing low to give the Jeremiah’s the dream start to their championship.  He would add the opening point of the game with his first of four frees in the third minute before the home side finally wakened from their slumber.

Three unanswered white flags from Ryan McNulty, Michael Bradley and MacManus’ first free of the night brought the home side to within one point after five minutes.  Rossa responded with a trio of unanswered points of their own through Gerard Walsh, Declan McCartney and Thomas Morgan and on the balance of play, it was a deserving lead for Rossa.

They were playing with more intensity and not letting St John’s settle into the game and with Corey Walsh and Diarmuid Rogan in particular playing strongly, the Rossa defence wasn’t giving the Johnnies attack any breathing space.

Ciaran Johnston split the posts from distance to reduce the deficit to two points but such was the strength of the Rossa defence, they only yielded one further point from open play in 20 minutes.  St John’s and MacManus did add a further four points from frees before Ronan Donnelly split the uprights in injury time while Rossa had points from Dominic McEnhill, Stephen Beatty, Daire Murphy, Aodhan O’Brien split the posts either side of a Declan McCartney score to leave the half time score 1-10 to 0-9 in Rossa’s favour.

With the advantage of a wind at their backs in the second half, it was very much a case of advantage Rossa at the interval.  St John’s didn’t play with any cohesion and the Jeremiah’s were well worth their four point lead.

The home side needed a strong start to the second half but it was Rossa and a Gerard Walsh free that opened the scoring.  St John’s did look more like themselves in the opening exchanges and a brace of points from Caolan Wilson and a massive free from Domhnall Nugent raised the voices of the home support.

The opening 10 or so minutes of the second half were evenly contested however.  Rossa added scores from Daire Murphy and Gerard Walsh frees before MacManus (free) and Eoin Trainor split the uprights.

Both sides were playing with more fluidity and precision in possession although their shooting did let them down on occasions.  McNulty and McEnhill fired over to leave four between the sides in the 42nd minute but that McEnhill score would be the Jeremiah’s last for fully 20 minutes. 

St John’s went about their work with their half back line excelling.  Ciaran Johnston and Ryan MvcNulty in particular impressing.  MacManus fired over three points from placed ball along with a Ronan Galbraith point to bring the sides level for the first time in the game in the 58th minute.

Gerard Walsh edged Rossa ahead again with his fourth white flag of the contest as the game edged into injury time.  MacManus and Murphy exchanged frees, Murphy’s free brought forward to the 21 meter line for indiscipline on the St John’s line but a brilliant point from Sean Wilson tied the sides in the sixth minute of injury time.

There was still time for one last chance and MacManus stood over the sliotar on his own ’65 but it was the only time in the match the Johnnies marksman radar let him down.  Honours even after a pulsating second half.

TEAMS

St John’s Starting XV: Domhnall Nugent; Enda McGurk, Conal Morgan, Lorcan McCallin; Sean Wilson, Ciaran Johnston, Ryan McNulty; Caoimhin Hanna, Aaron Bradley; Ronan Donnelly, Shea Shannon, Conall Bohill; Donal Carson, Michael Bradley, Oisin MacManus

  • Subs: Caolan Wilson for C Hanna (17); Ruairi Galbraith for D Carson (39); James Wilson for R Donnelly (54), Danaan McKeogh for M Bradley (54); Fiontan McKinney for A Bradley (Inj)
  • Scorers: O MacManus 0-11 (10f, 1’65); R McNulty 0-2; D Nugent 0-1 (1f), S Wilson 0-1, C Johnston 0-1, R Donnelly 0-1, M Bradley 0-1, R Galbraith 0-1, C Wilson 0-1

Rossa Starting XV: Donal Armstrong; Niall Crossan, Ciaran Orchin, Corey Walsh; Declan McCartney, Gerard Walsh, Diarmuid Rogan; Stephen Beatty, Conall Shannon; Dominic McEnhill, Daire Murphy, Luca McCusker; Aodhan O’Brien, Eoin Trainor, Thomas Morgan

  • Subs: Liam McEnhill for L McCusker (41); Joe Mulholland for C Shannon (51); Tiernan Murphy for A O’Brien (52); Deaglan Murphy for T Morgan (52); A O’Brien for E Trainor (58)
  • Scorers: Daire Murphy 1-4 (4f); G Walsh 0-4; D McCartney 0-2, D McEnhill 0-2, A O’Brien 0-2; S Beatty 0-1, E Trainor 0-1, T Morgan 0-1

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME, FOLLOW THE LINK…..

https://myalbum.com/album/d29PQNUqkwFihT/?invite=6c035539-303b-4f91-8ec2-608e7e872036

Ronan Heenan of People -1st presents a sponsorship cheque to Brendan McTaggart of the Saffron Gael before Friday evening’s championship meeting between St John’s and Rossa at Corrigan Park

St John’s GAC chairman Aidan Kelly presents a sponsorship cheque to Brendan McTaggart of the Saffron Gael before Friday evening’s Antrim Senior Hurling Championship game between St John’s and Rossa at Corrigan Park

by thesaffrongael

Can the Shamrocks finally realise their potential or can St John’s make the breakthrough?

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship Final

Loughgiel v St John’s

Sunday 19 October

Venue:  Ballycastle

Throw in: 2pm

Referee: Colum Cunning

Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Sunday’s final as Loughgiel take on St John’s for the right to be called Antrim senior hurling champions for 2025.

16 games later, a total of 65 goals and 636 points and all the usual drama that the Bathshack senior hurling championship brings, we have reached the final two.  A final pairing that I didn’t see coming but a final pairing who are there on merit.  Loughgiel and St John’s will take to the lush surface of Ballycastle, the first time these two have faced each other in a final since 1989.

Sunday’s combatants last met in a final in 1989 when they clashed at Casement Park

The Shamrocks are top of the Antrim Championship Roll of Honour and are looking to add to their 20 titles, their last coming nine years ago while St John’s are looking to take the Volunteer Cup back to Corrigan Park for the first time since 1973.  A 52 year wait for the men from the Whiterock Road and a series of near misses can come to an end on Sunday afternoon.

Interestingly, this is the first time since the current format that the finalists have come via the Quarter Final route and not direct to the semi’s.  It goes to show that momentum in sport is a wonderful commodity and when you have the wind at your sails and speed gathered, you can be hard to stop.

Looking at the Championship as a whole, Loughgiel averaged a final score of 3-20 over their five games, the Johnnies 2-22 while the average conceded by both is 2-16 and 2-20 respectively.  For the purpose of making life a little easier, all figures have been rounded to the nearest full digit but that’s enough of the math lesson.  I’ll try to stick to hurling from here.

Loughgiel’s James McNaughton has been top score for the Shamrocks. Pic by John McIwaine

St John’s have been the story of the championship so far having finally broken their semi final curse last day out against Cushendall.  It did take extra time but Ger Cunningham’s men finally got over the line.  The scenes at the final whistle were an outpouring of sheer joy and relief.  They have come so close in recent times and have probably hurled better in past defeats but that means little to them now.  The memories of six defeats in seven years at the last four with replays and extra time in four of those six occasions, there aren’t many who would have begrudged them those scenes, unless you’re from Cushendall that is.

Loughgiel are a club well used to the occasion at this stage and steeped in history with the Volunteer Cup and beyond.  2016 was the last time they brought the county title back to Fr Healy Park and they’ve tasted defeat three times at this stage since.  Once to Dunloy (2020) and twice to Cushendall, the most recent of those two years ago when they staged a Herculean comeback at Corrigan but couldn’t get past the Ruairi’s.

The Shamrock’s championship run had been plain sailing until stoppage time against Cushendall.  A couple of late Sean McAfee goals stunned Shay McMahon’s men but they have put thoughts of the disappointment of that well and truly behind them.  It was a pivotal moment of this championship and a chance for this group of Shamrocks to build some steel or metal.  A solid performance against Ballycastle followed before overcoming Dunloy in the semi finals in what many have called, the game of this and many a championship so far.  Recovering from four points adrift at half time, the Shamrocks were irresistible after the prolonged half time break.  1-4 without reply with the goal coming from Dan McCloskey while further majors came via James McNaughton and Rian McMullan.  Eight points ahead and into the last ten, Loughgiel held off a mighty Dunloy comeback and a brilliant score from Rian McMullan booked their place in the decider.

Loughgiel will welcome back team captain Tiernan Coyle after a two match suspension and I’d expect TC to take his place in the starting lineup.  That would allow Ruairi ‘Badger’ McCormick to move into midfield again and partner up with Rian McKee, a duo that had been so impressive until the Shamrocks were forced into the switch.  Daragh Patterson may be the unlucky one to miss out with any change in the front six highly unlikely.

TC could be back in the starting line-up. Pic by Michael Corcoran

Their strength had lay at the pace and power in their forward line but also the puck outs from Cormac McFadden.  A facet of his game that he certainly has done a mountain of work on, McFadden’s restarts have been pivotal to the Shamrocks progress.  Paul Boyle didn’t get much joy out of Eoin McFerran in the semi-final and there’s no doubt the St John’s management team will have watched and rewatched that game as Boyle up to that point, had been one of the players of the championship.  That being said, while he might not have got on the scoresheet in the semi-final, moving Boyle to play around the middle of the park was a massive move that went a long way to the Shamrocks overcoming Dunloy.

Declan McCloskey

The most impressive line in Loughgiel’s team this championship campaign has been their half back line.  Rory McCloskey at 6 with Declan McCloskey on one side and Ben McGarry on the other, they built the foundations for the win in the semi-final and I’m thinking on even further back to the group game against Rossa where they helped turn the screw at the start of the second half in that game.

Not many gave St John’s a hope coming up against Cushendall in the semi-final and I’ll include myself on that list.  Maybe not just as strong as that but they were certainly up against it given their performance against Rossa and form at that stage in recent years.

Big Domnhal is happy for the Johnnies to be written off

But, they enjoyed that win and enjoyed proving the ‘experts’ wrong.  As Domhnall Nugent said to me after the game with a smile and a glint in his eye: “Keep writing us off, Brendan.  We love it.”  It took extra time and a last gasp score from Conor Johnston in normal time to get them there, but there’s no doubting the Johnnies deserved to be in the final.

An unsteady group performance where they only managed a draw against Naomh Eanna before blitzing Ballycastle in the first half and cruising to the win.  Against Dunloy, it took a strong final 10 or 15 minutes to put a degree of respectability on the scoreboard but ultimately, it’s about getting through the group and that they did.

Donal Carson, Shea Shannon and Conor Johnston

Donal Carson and Conor Johnston had been their stand-out performers in the opening three games with Shea Shannon, Oisin Donnelly, Ryan McNulty and Sean Wilson also impressing.  Wilson in particular going through a mountain of ‘dirty’ work in the middle third that largely goes unseen.

The reintroduction of Ciaran Johnston since injury has been massive for the Johnnies, particularly in the quarter and semi final wins.  He might play with three on his back, but he was pivotal in their win against Rossa and superb against Cushendall.  His influence has certainly been telling.

A mark of the progress of the Johnnies was that Quarter Final win against Rossa.  They looked dead and buried, out of ideas and out of the championship.  They just seemed to hit some momentum at the right time when Rossa floundered, Mick Bradley came off the bench and the rest, as they say, is history.  Rossa left the Hightown Road wondering what just happened and St John’s grew six inches taller.

If Loughgiel’s engine room has been their half back line, it looks like we’re set for a superb contest up against the St John’s half forward line.  OD has switched with Aaron Bradley in midfield on occasions but with Conor Johnston and Conall Bohill there, the Shamrocks will have to be wary of their ball winning ability in both primary and secondary phases.  Bohill was outstanding against Cushendall, winning innumerable ball as the likes of Conor Johnston and Shea Shannon exploited if he didn’t take a score himself.

St John’s captain Shea Shannon

The key for St John’s will be the intensity they bring.  They have to start all guns blazing like they did against Ballycastle in the group phase and in their semi final win against Cushendall.  If they let Loughgiel settle quickly, this Shamrock outfit will punish them to the fullest.  Deprive Loughgiel of time and space in the middle third to deliver telling ball into the inside forward line where Boyle, Roan McGarry and Dan McCloskey will be ready to pounce.

In the last quarter against Dunloy, they played a possession game and hurling off the shoulder that is a nightmare to defend against.  It will take that and more for them to become the first city winners of the senior hurling championship in 21 years.

Loughgiel start as favourites and rightly so.  They defeated a much fancied Dunloy team at their own game and look like a team that are coming of age.  The big conundrum at Healy Park was how they could translate their minor success into senior glory, they are 60 minutes away from realizing that potential.

Loughgiel’s Roan McGarry
St John’s Peter McCallin

Prediction time….

Ok so zero from two from the semi final predictions but let’s be honest, who saw this as the final pairing maybe outside of the St John’s and Loughgiel camps?  The Shamrock’s may not like it given my track record this championship campaign but I’m giving them a tentative nod their way to take the Volunteer Cup back to Healy Park.  For those who like a flutter, three points is the handicap betting with the Shamrocks 4/9 and St John’s 2/1.  This might be printed out and pinned on the changing room door in Ballycastle but it has all the qualities to be a cracker.

by thesaffrongael

The Johnnies came up short in semi-finals so many times…..but they kept the faith

By Brendan Crossan

PAUL Brady’s hit song ‘Nothing but the same old story’ must have ricocheted all around Corrigan Park every time St John’s reached the semi-final stages of the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship over the last decade.

When the Dunloy hurlers beat O’Donovan Rossa heavily in 2021 to make it a magnificent three-in-a-row, hurling’s gaze turned away from Belfast again.

Seaan Elliott celebrates after scroing against Rossa in 2021

Colly Murphy’s ‘Rossa side had well and truly scorched the senior championship that year and were the first city club to reach the showpiece final since St Gall’s gate-crashed the decider in 2014, but Gregory O’Kane’s Dunloy side were arguably at their peak and just too good.   

You’d need to go further back – 20 more years, to be precise – to remember the last time St John’s made it to a senior final, only to lose to an up-and-coming Dunloy in ’94. 

“I was only starting out and came on in the county final in the 1994 against Dunloy,” said Johnnies man Brian McFall. “You were thinking: ‘This is great this craic – we’ll play in finals every year.’

“But we didn’t. 1994 was my one and only appearance in a county final. I didn’t get to play in another one.”

A good few of the team who won the 1973 Antrim and Ulster championship were not available when they travelled to Cork to play Blackrock in early 1974.
Back row L–R, Gerry Mallon, Billy Johnston, Ernie McMullan, Dickie Looby, John Gough, Ray McIlroy, Mickey Gallagher, Tony McNulty, Tommy Cunningham, Seamus Gallagher.
Front, L-R, Peter Rafferty, Martin McGranaghan, Sean McFerrin, John McCallin, Tommy Best, Hugh McCrory, Seanie Burns, John Jamison, Andy McCallin

Keep tumbling deeper into the archives, to 1973, when the Johnnies last won the Volunteer Cup – a time when Tommy Best, Gerry McCann, Des Armstrong, John Gough, Andy McCallin and Sean Burns ruled the roost and went on to claim Ulster that same season. 

Entering the 1980s, former county hurler and Johnnies man Collie Donnelly played in four senior hurling finals and lost all of them – and yet played in five football finals and won all five.

Climbing the small-ball summit proved beyond the west Belfast club and the Volunteer Cup soon became the preserve of north Antrim with Dunloy, Cushendall and Loughgiel Shamrocks sharing the coveted silver among themselves.

Over the last decade the Johnnies assumed the unwanted tag of the ‘nearly men’ of Antrim hurling.

Time and again they came up short. Hoodoo and semi-finals were synonymous with the Whiterock Road club.

Even though they firmly believed that they possessed the talent to win a championship – among them, the Johnstons, the Bradleys, the Bohills – there was always somebody better than them in any given year, and that’s all it took. 

They lost five consecutive semi-finals between 2018 and 2022. Nobody did crushing semi-final defeats quite like the Johnnies. 

Just when you thought they couldn’t lose in more dramatic fashion, the Johnnies out-done themselves every year. 

In 2018, they were five up with five minutes to play against their nemesis Cushendall and somehow conjured defeat.

Cushendall’s Conor Carson whose two second half goals sunk the Johnnies in the 2018 semi-final replay in Ballycastle

The following year, it was the Ruairi Ogs again who denied them a final spot.

St John’s forged ahead twice in stoppage-time but Cushendall came back to draw the game before going on to win a tense replay. 

No club championship lifted the COVID gloom in 2020 more than Antrim’s – an unforgettable series of games that was topped by a miraculous one-armed display from Domhnall Nugent who singlehandedly took the game to Loughgiel Shamrocks.

The trees around Dunsilly still whisper about Nugent’s skill and courage that day.

Now keeping goal for St John’s this season and interpreting the role supremely well, Nugent could be on Davy Fitzgerald’s radar as back-up to Ryan Elliott.

In 2021, controversy reigned in Dunsilly as Ciaran Johnston was red-carded after 90 seconds and defending champions Dunloy advanced to another final.

In 2022, the Johnnies opened up with a fine win over Loughiel Shamrocks in Corrigan Park but suffered a surprise collapse in their last four joust with Dunloy.

Brendan Crossan interviews Oisin McManus after the Johnnies win over Loughgiel in the round robin section of the 2022 championship at Corrigan Park

Two first-half goals from Conal Cunning and a third from Nigel Elliott ruined St John’s final chances. Dunloy were unstoppable. The Johnnies went back to the drawing board.

“As soon as Dunloy got the first goal, our heads dropped and we never recovered,” McFall said.

Faith in the Johnnies began to sag after that. Club stalwart Mickey Johnston came back for another managerial stint and kept the side competitive before leaving the reins for Gerard Cunningham this season.  

The Johnnies team-sheet hasn’t changed a great deal over the last number of years – but nobody, outside of the players themselves, expected 2025 to be the year the west Belfast club reached their first final since ’94.

Ryan McNulty’s injury time points sent his team through to another semi-final meeting with Cushendall

In their quarter-final at St Enda’s on the Hightown Road, O’Donovan Rossa were the better team – until an unfortunate slip, a scuffed goal from Michael Bradley and a raking score from defender Ryan McNulty saw the Johnnies tear up the script.

Cushendall awaited them in the semi-finals. 

The entire county began humming Paul Brady’s hit song as the Johnnies struggled to reel their north Antrim rivals in midway through the second half.

But once they managed to quell the influence of Cushendall’s brilliant young corner-forward Fiontan Bradley, the Johnnies were back in the game.

Ciaran Johnston in action against Cushendall in the semi-final

Enda McGurk, Peter McCallin and Ryan McNulty excelled in the Johnnies defence while Ciaran Johnston – the team fixer – won’t play many better games for the rest of his career than the one he produced against Cushendall.

Conor Johnston, Ciaran’s brother, passed the semi-final stress test, as did Conal Bohill and Shea Shannon in the two periods of extra-time to reach the final.

While so many gave up on them some years back, the St John’s players never stopped believing. 

You just need to trace the team-sheet back to bleaker days and appreciate what resilience looks like.

As Loughgiel Shamrocks await them in Ballycastle on Sunday, St John’s have wrestled the quill and are intent on writing their own piece of history now.

And hurling’s gaze has turned to the city again.