Gaelic Games

Dunloy Cuchulainns too strong for O’Donovan Rossa in Antrim hurling final

Three first-half goals but the tie to bed as Dunloy moves on to December Ulster final

Sun Oct 10 2021 - 19:23

Dunloy Cuchulainns 3-23 O’Donovan Rossa 1-14

The importance of experience told in the Antrim hurling final, making a return to Belfast after an absence of several years as Dunloy Cuchulainns beat O’Donovan Rossa – making their first appearance in the decider since 2004 – by 15 points.

The damage was done in the first half after Dunloy concentrated on creating and taking goals. By the half-time whistle sounded they had plundered three of them, each of the full-forward line profiting from some poor skills executions by their opponents.

Dunloy Cuchulainns celebrate with the cup after victroy in the Antrim hurling final. Cathal McOscar/Inpho

Conal Cunning finished with 1-11 to his name and had a hand in all three goals, setting up Chrissy McMahon and Sean Elliott. Behind him, the veteran Paul Shiels was most prominent when the game was there for the taking.

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Once they got a bit of breathing space, he was able to unleash his full range of talents, which rarely go beyond doing the most sensible and clever thing each time, but at a level of perfection that is rarely attained.

After the early goal from Elliott on five minutes, Rossa settled into the game and had got to within a point with Stephen Beatty showing early promise in their attack.

The second goal on 22 minutes came as a result of Dunloy’s direct approach leading to Cunning snaffling a low driven shot to the net.

When Rossa midfielder Deaglan failed to make his pick up four minutes later, Dunloy went right down the centre of the Rossa defence and with Cunning not giving up on gaining possession against opposition goalkeeper Donal Armstrong, he worked it to Chrissy McMahon to net.

After that, the issue was settled. There would be no comebacks from a ten point gap and the margin only grew throughout a pedestrian second half. A late major from Beatty for Rossa put a little more gloss on the scoreline for the challengers, but it was purely cosmetic.

Dunloy manager Gregory O’Kane was philosophical at the final whistle, dedicating the win to everyone in Dunloy that supports their huge ambition and drive.

“People talk about clubs, really and truly it’s just families when you think about it. Without that we are nothing. And that’s the GAA,” he stated.

“We beat ourselves up and we are critical, but the GAA, lads, where else would you want to be?”

They now will face the winners of the Derry final – expected to be Slaughtneil – in the Ulster club championship, away on December 12th.

Dunloy Cuchulainns: R Elliott; A Crawford, C McKinley, C Kinsella; R Molloy, K McKeague, R McGarry; P Shiels (0-2), Keelan Molloy (0-1); E O'Neill (0-1), Kevin Molloy (0-5), E McFerran; C McMahon (1-1), C Cunning (1-11, 0-8f), S Elliott (1-2) Subs: N McKeague for McFerran (49 mins), D Smyth for McMahon (52 mins), E Smyth for K McKeague (56 mins), G McTaggart for O'Neill (59 mins), O Quinn for Crawford (63 mins). O'Donovan Rossa: D Armstrong; C Orchin, A Kenneally, A Orchin; Stephen Shannon (0-1), M Armstrong, C McGuinness (0-3); G Walsh (0-1f), Deaglan Murphy (0-2f); Dáire Murphy, Seaghan Shannon, A O'Brien; T Murphy, S Beatty (1-4), T Morgan (0-3). Subs: C Shannon for A Orchin (7 mins), D Rocks for Dáire Murphy (half-time), E Trainor for Seaghan Shannon (half-time), N Crossan for C Orchin (50 mins), C McGettigan for T Murphy (52 mins). Referee: Mark O'Neill (Glen Rovers/Armoy).

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