Club Hurling Finals Preview

This weekend’s Ulster Club Senior Hurling Final brings together Dunloy of Antrim and Ballycran of Down for the first time in the Provincial decider since 1995 when the Antrim champions ran out winners on a 2-18 to 0-09 score line.

Ballycran have won the title twice, in 1976 and 1993, but have been beaten finalists on five occasions.  Dunloy won their first title in 1990 and since then they have never been beaten in an Ulster final, winning nine titles to date, including four in a row between 2000 and 2003.

Today’s meeting will see Dunloy starting as slight favourites having defeated last year’s champions Ruairi Og Cushendall in the Antrim Final.  Few would have anticipated that victory as Dunloy struggled to overcome challenges from Glenariffe and Ballycastle en route to the Antrim final.  However a dominant performance, particularly from goalkeeper Gareth McGhee and some of the more experienced members of the team, led to a comfortable 3-14 to 1-13 victory.  McGhee scored a penalty and pulled off several excellent saves while Liam and Paddy Richmond, Gregory O’Kane and Malachy Molloy turned in superb performances to oust the reigning Antrim and Ulster champions.

Ballycran on the other hand had to put in a mighty performance to overthrow Ballygalget in the Down final.  Ballycran have been rebuilding over the past number of years after a highly successful run at underage level.  Team manager Eamonn Blaney has developed a very young panel, which is complimented by the experience of Simon Wilson, Gary Savage and Mick Braniff.  However, this may be a year or two too early for this squad who will surely have a bright future if they continue to make progress at the rate they have done so far.

A close encounter can be expected with Dunloy probably continuing their winning ways in Ulster Club Championship finals.

The Intermediate final which takes place in Pairc Esler, Newry brings together two teams that will be contesting their first ever Provincial Hurling final.  Although better known for their football exploits St Galls will be no pushover and can boast three Antrim County stars in Karl Stewart, Kieran McGourty and Conor McGourty.  Armagh champions, Middletown will look to Cathal Carville, Ryan Gaffney and Kieran McKernan for inspiration.  A tough one to call but the Armagh men may just claim their first Provincial title at Intermediate level.

The curtain raiser to the senior decider in Casement Park sees the Junior final between two new finalists with Naomh Colum Cille from Tyrone facing St Mary’s, Rasharkin from Antrim.  Ironically both teams were beaten at the semi final stage of Division 3 of the Ulster Senior Club Hurling League but have now battled on to win their county titles and now contest their first Provincial final.  This will be a close encounter with the Antrim men starting as slight favourites.

Results to date in this year’s Ulster Club Championship:

ULSTER SENIOR HURLING CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct 11 Ballycran         2-16                 Kevin Lynch’s            2-13     Casement Park

ULSTER INTERMEDIATE HURLING CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct 04 Lisbellaw         1-06                 St Galls           6-16     Enniskillen
Oct 05 Liatroim          1-16                 Castleblayney  1-13     Pairc Esler
Oct 11 Middletown    2-13                 Liatroim          1-11     Casement Park
Oct 20 St Galls           5-14                 Eoghan Ruadh            1-06     Armagh

ULSTER JUNIOR HURLING CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Sept 27 Sean Treacys  1-10                 Rasharkin        4-13     Armagh
Oct 03 Lisnaskea        0-12                 Warrenpoint    0-08     Lisnaskea
Oct 04 N Colum Cille 2-12                 Na Magha       2-05     Dungannon
Oct 04 Carrickmacross1-05                Burt                 5-22     Ballybay
Oct 04 Rasharkin        1-21                 Mullahoran      0-01     Casement Park
Oct 11 N Colum Cille 4-12                 Lisnaskea        1-04     Dungannon
Oct 11 Rasharkin        1-10                 Burt                 1-08     Dungannon