Antrim SHC Final: St John's triumph
St John's defeated Loughgiel Shamrocks in the Antrim SHC Final. Photo by Antrim GAA
Antrim SHC Final
St John’s 2-16 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-18
By Maghnus Dunne at Páirc Mac Úilin
Belfast hurling is well and truly back after St John’s ended over half a century to become Antrim kings once more after they overcame the odds to defeat Loughgiel Shamrocks in Ballycastle on Sunday afternoon.
The Johnnies held the half in their favour, as predicted they were masters of winning the dirty ball, anything that required a dog fight they rose to the occasion in the opening period in Ballycastle.
The ever present Enda McGurk and Peter McCallin managed to out-strengthen their opponents in the opening stages in the backline as the Johnnies forwards got into their stride pointing six scores with only a single in reply through McNaughton for Shamrocks.
James McNaughton and Paul Boyle were the bright spots for Shamrocks as they struck six of their eight points between them, but the five wides proved to be telling of their first half of hurling.
Domhnall Nugent’s spectacular stop to prevent McNaughton was the first chance for a major, but the Belfast side struck the first goal when Donal Carson evaded the oncoming defenders to short puck a strike into the back of the net.
Both sides showed their prowess from the dead-ball as Shannon and McNaughton would tally four points apiece for their side. With Shannon closing the half with a tremendous free to close the first half as the Johnnies led by a goal.
The second half started frantically with both Shannon and McNaughton pointing for their sides, but the Johnnies determination to continue overturning the ball was a key aspect of their game which maintained throughout.
Oisin McManus found space and thumped his effort into the goal to increase St John’s lead to six points before Shan McGrath found the net for Loughgiel as his goal managed to get his side within three scores of the Johnnies.
With just the five minutes left of play Peter McCallin blocked Ben McGarry's goal-bound effort much to the jubilation of the Corrigan Park faithful in attendance.
McNaughton’s free taking excellence hit a rocky patch and with two wides at crucial moments giving St John’s much needed relief. The North Antrim natives looked to regain the initiative in the latter stages as O’Hagan managed to point twice in stoppage time to reduce the deficit to the minimum.
The St John’s defence remained resolute, limiting the oppositions chances and when the Belfast side won the final puck out the whistle was blown and St John’s were crowned kings of Antrim for the first time since 1973.
Scorers for St John's: Shea Shannon 0-5 (4fs), Oisin McManus 1-2, Conor Johnston 0-4, Aaron Bradley 0-2, Domhnall Nugent 0-1 (f), Conall Bohill 0-1, Donal Carson 1-0,Michael Dudley 0-1.
Scorers for Loughgiel Shamrocks: James McNaughton 0-10 (0-8f, 0-1 65’), Shan McGrath 1-1, Charley O’Hagan 0-2 (2fs), Ruairi McCormick 0-1, Rian McMullan 0-1.
St John’s: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Ciaran Johnston (C), Jack Bohill; Conal Morgan, Peter McCallin, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Aaron Bradley; Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston, Conall Bohill; Donal Carson, Shea Shannon, Oisin McManus
Subs: Lorcan Heenan on for Conall Bohill, David Robinson on for Oisin McManus, Ronan Donnelly on for Ciaran Johnston, Michail Dudley on for Sean Wilson, Michael Bradley on for Donal Carson.
Loughiel Shamrocks: Cormac McFadden; Tiernan Coyle (C), Enda Óg McGarry, Liam Glackin; Ben McGarry, Rory McCloskey, Declan McCloskey; Ryan McKee, Ruairi McCormick; Rian McMullan, James McNaughton, Darragh Patterson; Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Dan McCloskey
Subs: Shan McGrath on for Darragh Patterson, Charley O’Hagan on for Ruairi McCormick.
