By Michael McMullan
SWATRAGH are challenging for a first ever Ulster hurling title when they step into the ring against Castlewellan for Saturday’s Ulster Junior final.
They lost by the narrowest margins at the hands of Carey Faughs in the intermediate decider two years ago.
While their camogs have won Ulster silver in the past, the men have a chance to make it a first.
The Derry hurling championship had a different format this season. Anyone dropping out of the senior race, played off to see who would make it to the junior final.
“We were a bit disappointed with our Derry run out,” said Declan McGuckin, a member of Eddie McCloskey’s backroom team.
Swatragh ran Kevin Lynch’s close but defeat saw them paired with Lavey in the Intermediate Championship. A further defeat left them in an junior final with Ballinascreen.
“Two years ago, funny enough, against Eddie’s (McCloskey) team Carey, we left one behind us in Loughgiel that day by a point,” McGuckin said of their intermediate shot.
“It’s not too often you get a chance to rectify it straight away. Ulster finals and Ulster runs in Swatragh are hard to come by for senior hurlers and footballers.
“To get into an Ulster final is really, really good and hopefully the boys do themselves justice now on Saturday.”
Since the Derry final, Swatragh have reflected before putting lot into a bid to push on in Ulster.
Intensity
“In the last couple of games, our intensity was really good,” McGuckin added.
“We’ve been trying to use the ball a bit better, putting the ball into our full forward line. We’ve been getting intensity around the middle, winning the breaking balls, chasing boys back.
“That has been really, really good these last two games. It probably wasn’t where we probably wanted it to be in the Derry championship.”
Another member of the management team, Conor Quinn, points to the increase in numbers and the club adding the reserve championship title.
“We thought the reserves this year was absolutely massive,” he said. “It’s been talked about to death around here but it wasn’t a generation ago that our senior team was struggling to win the Reserve Championship.
“Now, to go and win it with a genuine reserve team is brilliant. We had 34 men out there tonight (Tuesday’s training session) so we’re fit to play a game, it’s competitive and the rising tides lifts all boats.”