A taste of Saffron: A look at some iconic Antrim hurling finals

Dunloy and Cushendall do battle on Sunday to decide where the Volunteer Cup spends the winter. Michael McMullan looks back on some of the memorable finals…

2023 Cushendall 1-20 Loughgiel 1-19

CUSHENDALL breathed a sigh of relief when James McNaughton pulled a late chance wide after hitting 1-10 in the decider.

Fergus McCambridge’s goal was the difference in the first-half with Paddy Burke hitting 0-4 from play in a starring role but they needed to hold off a late Shamrocks’ comeback.

They needed a late show to beat Portaferry before a comfortable win over Sleacht Néill in the final. After having a hold of the All-Ireland semi-final, they fell short by a point at the hands of O’Loughlin Gaels.

2019 Dunloy 3-16 Cushendall 2-15

TWO late Seaan Elliott goals swung a keenly contested decider as Dunloy landed their 13th title.

Fergus McCambridge and Nigel Elliott hit first-half goals with Dunloy 1-9 to 1-8 ahead at the break.

With 10 minutes to go, the sides were level – 1-14 each – before Elliott struck two decisive goals.

It was a merging of a group of young Dunloy players but they were beaten in the Ulster final by Sleacht Néill who were in their pomp.

2015 Cushendall 2-16 Ballycastle 1-15

CUSHENDALL came from nine points down to lift the title against Ballycastle in Dunloy.

Ballycastle had five points on the board before Neil McManus scores from the ‘Dall and a goal from Sean McCaughan had them 1-11 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.

Goals from Natty McNaughton and Eoghan Campbell but the net before a Christy McNaughton point gave them the lead for the first time on the way to victory.

It took extra-time to see off Sleacht Néill in the Ulster final.

2010 Loughgiel 1-9 Cushendall 0-11

A GOAL from Eddie McCloskey was the difference as Loughgiel won a first title since 1989.

It was a pressure final for the Shamrocks who made their name for the wrong reasons, having lost six finals in a row – 2003 to 2008.

McCloskey netted the only goal in the first half but they had to survive a late ‘Dall comeback to win an emotional title.

Loughgiel were winners over Keady but came up short at All-Ireland level with their second national title coming in 2012

2007 Dunloy 1-16 Loughgiel 0-16

A GOAL from Alistair Elliott midway through the semi-final was the difference as Dunloy got back to the top table in Antrim.

After losing the chance for a fifth successive title in a row in 2004, Dunloy were back at the top.

The Shamrocks led 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time with Liam Watson having hit all of their scores.

Four unanswered points moved Dunloy 0-12 to 0-9 ahead before Elliott’s goal put them six clear.

Loughgiel battled back but current Dunloy manager Gregory O’Kane’s 0-8 hauled helped seal victory,

2004 Rossa 1-15 Loughgiel 2-4

A HUNGRY Rossa side strode imperiously to a first title since 1998 with a sharper performance,

They took their lead from midfield duo Jim Connolly and Joe Frank Boyle with eight players getting on the scoring act. Rossa led 0-8 to 1-2 at half-time but Chris McDonnell – who scored 1-3 – Mickey McCullough continued to lead the attack.

Liam Watson bagged a second Shamrocks’ goal, with the last puck, but there was no stopping Rossa who went on to beat Ballygalget in the Ulster final.

1990 Dunloy 2-10 Rossa 1-10

FOR all the success Dunloy had down the years, their hurling story had to begin somewhere. After making progress at underage level, they reached the final in 1990. It was a point from the late Tony McGrath that earned a second bite of the cherry in a thee drawn final. With a tally of 2-2, Allistar Elliott was the star of the replay to shoot Dunloy to victory. After winning Ulster, Glenmore beat Dunloy in their first All-Ireland game.

1981 Cushendall 3-8 Ballycastle 0-16

THE late Danny McNaughton inspired Cushendall to their first ever Antrim hurling title.

It took a replay for the ‘Dall to make their mark in history and McNaughton was the star man on both days.

They went on to beat Dungiven and Portaferry to land a first Ulster Championship but it was Waterford’s Mount Sion who ended their All-Ireland hopes.