Hurling & Camogie

Loughgiel are as good as they were in their All-Ireland winning year: James Campbell

Loughgiel's James Campbell (left) feels the Shamrocks are playing at the same level that took them to an All-Ireland club title in 2012 <br />Picture by S&eacute;amus Loughran
Loughgiel's James Campbell (left) feels the Shamrocks are playing at the same level that took them to an All-Ireland club title in 2012
Picture by Séamus Loughran
Loughgiel's James Campbell (left) feels the Shamrocks are playing at the same level that took them to an All-Ireland club title in 2012
Picture by Séamus Loughran

FOUR and-a-half years on from their All-Ireland success, Loughgiel are back in another Ulster final - and wing-back James Campbell feels they are hurling at a similar level.

With 10 of the same starting team still filling positions week-to-week and three more coming off the bench, the personnel are familiar. But the introductions of Tony McCloskey, Tiarnán Coyle, Damon McMullan, Maol Connolly and Donal McKinley since 2012 has given them freshness and a renewed hunger.

And for Campbell, the changes haven’t diminished the quality as they now prepare for Slaughtneil in an Ulster final, seeking to continue their superb record in the provincial series.

“I would say, definitely [we’re playing at the level of three or four years ago]. Not putting any pressure on our young players coming through, but they’re every bit as good as the men that have stepped aside," he says.

“I know myself, I have a couple of young boys I’m friendly with breathing down my neck to come and take my position. It’s great for our club and it pushes me on and keeps me on my toes. The world’s our oyster.”

The 26-year-old wing-back has been a regular since 2010, having made his senior debut for the club three years earlier and eventually forced his way in. He has acquired five county medals - four Ulsters and an All-Ireland - so far. In most clubs, that would be enough to secure a hall of fame spot.

Having won the lion’s share of Ballygalget puckouts in sunny Maghera last Sunday will, allows Campbell - the younger brother of current manager and former number seven Johnny - let the half-back line breathe slightly easier on their spots for the decider with Slaughtneil on Sunday week.

“I suppose it comes down to communication and working together,” says Campbell of a division that’s been a strength throughout this run.

“We have two centre-halves on our team, really. Odhrán McFadden’s coming off our bench there and he could start that team, but Tony McCloskey’s just going so well at the minute that you can’t look by him. In the semi-final and the final, Tony came off, but Odhrán will slot in there like there hasn’t been a change.

“Odhran’s really calm and collected on the ball and it’s great to have that option there. We’re really strong on the bench and it’s credit to our lads that they keep pushing on.”

Last Sunday’s semi-final win over Ballygalget saw the Shamrocks’ attack really spark for the first time this summer. Ballycastle and Cushendall, particularly the latter, tested the intestinal fortitude of a side that hadn’t been out of Antrim in three years.

The Down champions frustrated them for 20 minutes but, once the initial burst wore off them, Loughgiel had far too many aces in attack: “We knew that the intensity was going to be in the game early on, but we felt that, if we could match their intensity, our hurling would come out on top.

“We’ve been going very well after coming out of Antrim. Our stickwork and our movement off-the-ball has been very good. We’ll just try and keep it going from there,” adds Campbell.

Not least of those who performed well was Liam Watson, who hit five points from play and looked to be edging back towards top form again to defy those who felt his time was up.

“There’ll always be those people. I’ve had my own critics as well. Liam, I’m sure, has his own," Campbell says.

“But we’re like a family in there. We’re a tight knit group of players. The next man beside me is my brother. We’ll work for each other. I believe in Liam Watson, that he’ll get me over the line and hopefully he’ll believe in me and I’ll help him get over the line too.

"That’s what it’s all about, just working hard for each other.”