By Paul Keane

Dunloy Cuchullains will join an elite crew of teams after next month's AIB All-Ireland club hurling final.

Like Portumna, Athenry and Rathnure, they will have contested five All-Ireland deciders in their history, leaving only Ballyhale Shamrocks - whom they will face - and Birr ahead of them.

It highlights the rich tradition associated with Dunloy and the competition and for current manager Gregory O'Kane it will be particularly familiar territory as he played in all four of the previous finals, between 1995 and 2004.

This afternoon's 1-14 to 0-13 semi-final defeat of favourites St Thomas' propelled Dunloy through to their latest showpiece.

"Croke Park is a special place," said O'Kane. "A club like Dunloy, our ambition is always to be here and to play a game of this magnitude. That's always been our goal, to get out of Ulster and to represent ourselves and our club on the best stage in the world, and bring our hurling here. It's a good day for the team and we are delighted to get over the line."

Missed chances could have cost Dunloy this time though. They were awarded a 19th minute penalty but Conal Cunning was denied by an expert stop from Gerald Kelly. There were 15 wides too but a strong second-half performance - they outscored 2013 champions St Thomas' by 1-8 to 0-7 in that period - elevated them to a landmark win.

"We were glad of half-time," said O'Kane, referencing the 0-6 to 0-6 stalemate at that stage. "Because we had done nothing wrong, just not taken our chances when they were there and executed them.

"It was about resetting at half-time and gathering our composure and getting set for the second-half.

"There's no doubt about it, it's about taking your chances, especially when you are here and our defence was absolutely outstanding here today.

"The way they closed down attacks, and our matchups were fantastic and everyone put their shoulder to the wheel."

O'Kane said that overcoming Slaughtneil in the Ulster final following a number of defeats to the Derry side was a big turning point for Dunloy.

"That was massive for us, just to get over it," he said. "Obviously we left a couple behind us in the past but we were delighted to get over the line that day and then it was about getting the bodies repaired for this game and thank God, it worked out well."