Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship: Ballycran v Slaughtneil (tomorrow, Dungannon, 3.30pm)
BRENDAN Rogers smashed over a superb point to edge Slaughtneil ahead in the dying seconds of extra-time at this stage last year. “What a score to win a game," said one of the Derry clubmen because the game looked settled.
But he spoke too soon because Cushendall won the puck-out, broke to equalise and salvage a replay which they won with a bit to spare.
That’s all water under the bridge now and Slaughtneil have another crack at making their first Ulster final when they take on Down champions Ballycran tomorrow. Another tense battle looks probable in Dungannon because these sides are evenly matched and have reasons to believe that they can progress to the decider where either Cushendall (Antrim champions again) or Armagh’s Middletown await.
Ballycran will be without skipper Michael Ennis who has a cruciate ligament injury, but otherwise manager Stephen McAree and his management team, Gary Savage and Hugh Gilmore, have a full deck to play from.
“We have no injuries, bar Michael, and everyone is looking forward to the game,” said McAree.
“Michael’s out but he comes to training. He’s a leader, that’s why he’s the captain this year and he’ll always be part of the team whether he’s injured or not.”
Slaughtneil are desperate to erase the memory of last year’s semi-final loss and, though they lost, the experience should stand to them. But Ballycran’s players have been there, done that too.
“We have guys who played in Ulster when I managed the team in 2009,” said McAree.
“A lot of the guys played in the Ulster final and a lot of these guys have won Christy Ring medals. So they’re well used to the big occasions and we’ve been talking about how it’s been a while since Ballycran have been in these big matches.
“They know they have to give it everything they’ve got because it doesn’t come around too often. You have to make the most of it while you can.
“I have 100 per cent confidence in these boys and I know they have 100 per cent confidence in their own ability.
“I wouldn’t be in this job if I wasn’t confident in them. At training you could see it in their faces that they want more. It’ll be a real tough battle against Slaughtneil who are a superb team, but we’re a superb team as well.”
Meanwhile, Slaughtneil, who completed a remarkable county treble of hurling, football and camogie last Sunday will be without Gerald Bradley tomorrow.
Manager Michael McShane is in his first year with the three in-a-row Derry champions and described Ballycran as “a massive hurdle”.
“Ballycran have been the best hurling team in Down over the last three years but for some reason they haven’t come out of the Down championship,” he said.
“Portaferry came out last year and went the whole way to the Ulster championship and that tells you that anybody who comes out of Down is a serious outfit. Ballycran are a really good hurling team, very strong up the middle, strong defensively, skilful up front so it’s just another level we are going to from the Derry championship.
“They’ll come out on Sunday looking to show everybody how good a team they are and so will we. Slaughtneil feel that last year they let it slip and they are very determined to make amends this year and go the whole way. We know the battle we’re in but we’re looking forward to it – we can’t wait for it.”
