Hurling & Camogie

Johnnies hoping Domhnall Nugent can play some role against Ballycastle

St John's boss Brian McFall was unhappy with how they finished the group stages of the Antrim SHC Picture: Philip Walsh
St John's boss Brian McFall was unhappy with how they finished the group stages of the Antrim SHC Picture: Philip Walsh St John's boss Brian McFall was unhappy with how they finished the group stages of the Antrim SHC Picture: Philip Walsh

ST JOHN’S hurling manager Brian McFall has an injury list “the length of his arm” – but is hoping Domhall Nugent is fit to play some part in Sunday’s Bathshack Antrim SHC quarter-final joust with Ballycastle at Dunsilly (1pm).

Nugent is one of five St John’s regulars who is struggling with injury. The county ace has an ongoing knee problem that will require surgery after this season’s championship, while fellow county men Conor Johnston and Conall Bohill are almost certain to miss Sunday’s tie.

Aidan McMahon and Oisin Donnelly’s expected absences will further weaken McFall’s hand.

“Our injury list is still as long as your arm but it is what it is,” said McFall who has yet to have a full squad to pick from this year.

“That would be five of our starters that are injured. The lads trained very hard last week so the rest are all grand. We’re just hoping we can get past Sunday and remain in the championship but Ballycastle will be a really tough game.

“I don’t think I ever beat Ballycastle when I played. They’re a young team, very fast and have great brains.”

After suffering two bad defeats to Dunloy and O’Donovan Rossa – last year’s county finalists – they managed to overcome neighbours and last season’s intermediate champions Carey Faughs in a win-or-bust clash at Ballyvoy 12 days ago to progress to the knock-out stages.

McFall was fulsome in his praise for veteran defender Neal McAuley who continues to be a mainstay in the McQuillan’s ranks.

“Neal McAuley is at centre back and he’s still a smashing hurler, he’s one of the best readers of the game and they’ve got Mattie [Donnelly] back too, so they’ve experience in there too.”

The Johnnies got their championship campaign off to a flyer with a hard-earned win over Loughgiel Shamrocks at the beginning of August and followed that up with another fine group win over St Enda’s. But they missed out on topping the group and going straight into the semi-finals after losing away to Cushendall.

“We were happy with the way things went against Loughgiel,” said the Johnnies boss.

“We let them back into it but held on for the win. We went up to St Enda’s, which could easily have been a banana-skin game for us and we played very well that night. But we were very disappointed with our performance against Cushendall.

“The lads didn’t play to their capabilities and didn’t reach the standard that we expect and they expect of themselves. We were annoyed even though we were already through to the knock-out stages before the game. But that didn’t matter – we wanted to top the group and we were confident enough we could have done it. But, regardless of that, we didn’t perform. The lads themselves knew and management take responsibility for that as well.

“But it’s knock-out championship now, there is no safety net. We have to bounce back and get back to the performances of our first two games.

“Had we have topped the group we would have four weeks’ rest. That mightn’t have been a bad thing but no game for that length of time? Now we have a game thrown in and we’re just hoping to get further in the championship, but we're under no illusions how tough Ballycastle will be on Sunday.”