Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Group One: Cuchullain’s Dunloy 0-26 St John’s, Belfast 0-21
HIGH up in the Sierra Maestra of Dunloy the pursuit of excellence never stalls. Chasing an historic five-in-a-row this year, it’ll take some team to stop them after securing top spot in Group One on Saturday evening and ensuring a much-needed few weeks off before their semi-final.
In more recent times that fanatical pursuit of being the best version of themselves has extended to the big-ball game as a dozen of Gregory O’Kane’s hurling squad prepare for their enticing football quarter-final with Lamh Dhearg on Friday night.
In negotiating a hard-fought five-point win over a gutsy St John’s on a beautiful Saturday evening at Pearse Park, O’Kane felt his charges were far from their best because of a punishing championship schedule across both codes.
But even on days like this there is still so much to admire about this brilliant Dunloy team. And to their credit, the Johnnies gave the Cuchullain’s their fill of it from the first whistle.
Although both sides had already qualified for the knock-out stages, along with O’Donovan Rossa, this engaging clash wasn’t played like a ‘dead rubber’.
“I actually watched St John’s in the first round of the championship [against Rossa] and I have to say they were superb,” said O’Kane afterwards.
“They found each other well and their accuracy in the first half tonight was superb. Hats off to St John’s. That’s the St John’s that we know and that’s the St John’s we want in the Antrim championship.”
The Johnnies created a three-point cushion for most of the first half and actually stretched their advantage to six points [0-14 to 0-8] in first-half stoppage-time before Decky Smyth and Chrissy McMahon replied immediately with scores for Dunloy.
Conor Johnston’s pinpoint accuracy saw the county ace nab back-to-back scores for the west Belfast men, Conal Bohill was also moving well, and Aaron Bradley’s three-in-a-row really put their hosts on the back foot.
Dunloy showed glimpses of their capabilities with Chrissy McMahon, Conal Cunning and Seaan Elliott keeping them in touch in the opening half.
But one look at the Cuchullain’s bench left St John’s with an awful sense of foreboding. The introductions of Keelan Molloy, at half-time, and Nigel Elliott, on 55 minutes, were the winning of this game.
The home side rattled off the first six points of the second half and by the 37th minute, the Johnnies’ hard-earned lead had turned into a two-point deficit.
Keelan Molloy sent over a couple of beauties that prompted warm applause from the home supporters and Nigel Elliott’s ability to win dirty ball and his accuracy in front of the posts were exceptional.
Aaron Bradley, though, kept chipping away at the scoreboard and towards the end of the third quarter this tie was nip and tuck.
But going down the home straight, Dunloy game-managed superbly well.
Conor McKinley and Phelim Duffin never gave an inch to the St John’s attackers and when Dunloy had possession in the last seven or eight minutes they made it count on the scoreboard.
Aaron Bradley levelled it up [0-20 apiece] on 55 minutes – but Dunloy would go on to hit the last six scores of the game without reply.
Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Cunning and Eoin McFerran all finished with aplomb.
Impressive St John's centre-back Ciaran Johnston was red-carded in the dying seconds after hauling Cunning to the floor when he was certain to score – which he duly did from the resultant free.
“The games have come thick and fast and probably we lacked energy at times,” said O’Kane, “but we’ve a good panel and the lads we introduced made a big difference and gave us the legs and a bit more structure around the middle.
“It’s been a tough five or six weeks for us, week on week [in hurling and football] and we’re probably seeing that in the lads. They probably weren’t just as sharp or on it and the wides probably comes from that [lack of] energy.
“It’s a nice break now. We’re delighted to top the group which was always our target and we have a massive semi-final no matter who that is, so all we can do is be ready for the next challenge.”
The wheel keeps on turning up in the Sierra Maestra of Dunloy, while the Johnnies left with plenty of credit in the bank and can look forward to giving the knock-out stages a right rattle.
Dunloy: R Elliott; P Duffin, C McKinley, C Kinsella; E Smyth (0-1), Kevin Molloy, E McFerran (0-2); P Shiels, C Elliott; R Molloy (0-1), D Smyth (0-2), S Elliott (0-4); E O’Neill, C Cunning (0-6, 0-4 frees), C McMahon (0-4) Subs: Keelan Molloy (0-3) for E O’Neill (h/t), N Elliott (0-3) for R Molloy (55), T McFerran for D Smyth (56), N McKeague for P Shiels (56), O Quinn for P Duffin (58)
St John’s: S Doherty; M McCartin, J Bohill, A McMahon; C Morgan, Ciaran Johnston, S Wilson; Conor Johnston (0-4), M Dudley (0-2); D McKeough (0-1), C Bohill (0-3), R McNulty; A Bradley (0-6, 0-3 frees), O Donnelly (0-1), O MacManus (0-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ’65) Subs: D McGuinness for A McMahon (4), S Shannon for R McNulty (h/t), R Galbraith for O MacManus (h/t), C McKenna for O Donnelly (57)
Red card: Ciaran Johnston (64)
Referee: C McDonald
