Ulster Club Senior Hurling Championship semi-final: Ballycran v Dunloy (tomorrow, 2.30pm, Athletic Grounds)
FOOL me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
If the mantra in the Dunloy changing room doesn’t resemble that old saying in some way, then they could find themselves meeting the same fate Slaughtneil did 12 months ago.
In Ulster hurling terms, the Down champions are the eternal unknown. The county might only have had two Ulster Club champions since the turn of the century, but every so often the Ards’ winners prove their worth.
For that 4-15 to 1-14 win over Slaughtneil last year, Ballycran were 9/1 outsiders, yet they got it all spot on to dethrone the champions at that time.
A glance at the scoreline from the decider with Cushendall suggests that they weren’t taken as lightly two weeks later, but the game – particularly the second half – was largely dominated by Gary Savage’s side. They just couldn’t score.
The return of James Coyle from a broken arm and the freedom of full-forward Colum McManus, who’s had his red card from the county final win over Portaferry rescinded, will do them no harm tomorrow in that regard.
Ballycran will be at full strength, which includes experienced brothers Michael and Brendan Ennis, who didn’t play last year but have returned this campaign to add that extra bit of solidity.
If they learnt anything from watching Dunloy’s victory in the Antrim final, it was how much joy Cushendall had from operating with a sweeper.
Weather conditions weren’t powerful but the Cuchullains hit a ream of wides, particularly in the first half. It was a lot down to the fact that they were forced to shoot from distances and angles they didn’t want to be shooting from.
Keelan Molloy and Nigel Elliott had moments, particularly the latter, but it was only once they finally fought their way into the lead with 10 minutes to go that space finally opened up for them to stretch the legs.
The introduction of Gabriel McTaggart gave them a focal point in attack, and his role in setting up fellow sub Seaan Elliott’s two late goals was overlooked.
Elliott will hope to have done enough to force his way into the starting side, but in a way, he looks like a Dunloy forward of two years ago.
Just turned 19, that’s exactly where he is – a year or two younger than his brother Nigel or Molloy or Conal Cunning. They’ve all filled out, boys that have become men.
And that’s where they’ll win the game. Ballycran’s defence will try and mix it with them, with skipper Paudie Flynn manning the fort from six and Michael and Patrick Hughes, and Brett and Scott Nicholson offering a serious strength in defence.
They’ll have noted how Dunloy were content to go 50-50 on puckouts and won a lot of the physical exchanges against a Cushendall side that traditionally have held the upper hand in that regard.
Gregory O’Kane’s side will look to the experience of Conor McKinley and Kevin McKeague down the heart of their defence, and the fact that Ballycran will almost certainly play with a sweeper means Dunloy will be afforded that bit of extra protection for their own goal.
Just as in the Antrim decider, the longer time ticks on, the more Dunloy’s power and pace will come to the fore. As long as they give Ballycran due respect, they’ll get out with five to spare.
