Hurling & Camogie

Cushendall defence can deny Ballycastle's forwards

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Cushendall's Neil McManus has been in sensational form this season</span>&nbsp;
Cushendall's Neil McManus has been in sensational form this season  Cushendall's Neil McManus has been in sensational form this season 

Antrim Senior Hurling Championship final:


Ruairí Óg, Cushendall v McQuillan’s, Ballycastle (Sunday, Dunloy, 3pm)

THE last time McQuillan’s, Ballycastle won the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship was in 1986. The Communards were number one in the charts with Don’t Leave Me This Way, pursued by a host of soft rock bands for the top spot.

Beer and cigarettes were unfathomably cheap. You could buy a pint of beer and 20 Embassy Regal for £2. And The Irish News was 18p.

The late 1970s and early '80s were halcyon days for Ballycastle. They won three in-a-row between 1978 and ’80 and claimed back-to-back county crowns in 1983 and ’84. But 1986 is where it all stopped.

In fact, it’s been 14 years since they last competed in a county final. The weight of history is on the McQuillan’s players on Sunday afternoon as they face defending champions Ruairí Óg, Cushendall. It would be a romantic chapter in the history of the Ballycastle club if they were to win in Dunloy on Sunday.

Talk to any player, on or off-the-record, about this final or, indeed, any interested observer and they all reach the same conclusion. It's a 50-50 game. It’s almost impossible to separate the two finalists.

In just a few short months in the job, Ronan Donnelly has worked wonders with his native Ballycastle. They outclassed O’Donovan Rossa on the Belfast club’s return to senior hurling before showing their Championship mettle in their brilliant semi-final win over Dunloy. Trailing by four points, Ballycastle mounted a second half comeback to win by four.

Throughout their league and Championship campaign, Ballycastle have shown that they have the forwards to overcome any opponent. Ciarán Clarke is Ballycastle's marquee forward and is capable of single-handedly ruining Cushendall's chances of retaining the title on Sunday. But Clarke isn't the only dangerous forward in the McQuillan's ranks.

Young Saul McCaughan has been outstanding and his clever movement will be one of many puzzles the Cushendall defence will face. Kevin McGarry and Shane Jennings are also important players in the Ballycastle forward line.

In defence, Ballycastle will rely on county stars Neal McAuley at centre-back and Mattie Donnelly at full-back. And there will be huge interest in McAuley's anticipated duel with county team-mate Neil McManus along the three-quarters.

But for all the praise heaped on Ballycastle’s forward line, Cushendall have some match-winners of their own in their attack. McManus is playing class hurling this season. When the chips were down in their Championship opener against St John’s, McManus and Seán McAfee pulled the game out of the fire for the holders.

And despite the claustrophobic surroundings in their pulsating semi-final against Loughgiel Shamrocks, McManus again stood tall, playing some smashing hurling and converting 11 frees.

Conor Carson is always a threat in the Ruairí Óg attack, while Christy McNaughton seems primed for Sunday’s challenge. In midfield, Shane McNaughton is nearing his best form again and can supply the Cushendall forward line with astute passes.

In the build-up to Sunday's decider, there has been no hint from the Cushendall camp that they have already passed their biggest test in Antrim by knocking out Loughgiel Shamrocks in a tempestuous semi-final only six days ago. There is an acute awareness among John McKillop's squad that Ballycastle will be ravenous for success. This is a game so hard to call.

The only pre-match analysis that suggests a Cushendall win is that their defensive structure seems slightly better, more rehearsed than Ballycastle’s. Eunan McKillop and Paddy McGill are well versed in playing the sweeper role and, with Karl McKeegan and Arron Graffin providing the experience, the Cushendall back-line appears better equipped to deal with Ballycastle’s dynamic forward line.

That might swing this final Cushendall's way.

PATHS TO THE FINAL

Ruairí Óg, Cushendall


Ruairí Óg 4-10 St John’s 2-15


Ruairí Óg 0-15 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-14

McQuillan’s, Ballycastle


O’Donovan Rossa 0-8 McQuillan’s 2-12


Cuchullain's 2-15 McQuillan’s 2-19