St John’s boss Johnston looking no further than Dunloy visit

By Michael McMullan

ST John’s manager Michael Johnston insists his side are looking no further than Saturday evening’s trip to Dunloy as the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship gets underway this weekend.

The Whiterock Road side have not win the title since 1973 and were last in the final 30 years ago when they went under to a Dunloy team who took Birr to an All-Ireland final replay.

Michael Johnston has returned as manager this season after having previously done a five-year stint with the club.

He looks back on taking Cushendall to two replays in 2018 and 2019 but they’ve not been knocking on the door since.

With players unavailable through injury last year, they found themselves in relegation trouble that also hampered their championship chances.

“All we’re interested in so far is a performance against Dunloy,” Johnston said of their target.

The Antrim Championship is organised in two groups with the top team advancing straight to the semi-finals.

“History tells you the top three (Dunloy, Loughgiel and Cushendall) will be there,” Johnston said, with his side also having Ulster champions Cushendall coming down the tracks.

“The question is who is going to be in the fourth place behind to make up the semi-final, that’s the reality of it.

“If St John’s are there in the shake, the lads will put the effort in but effort does not always reflect itself in results.

“We’re not looking past anything. It’s (Saturday) our first game. We’ll see how we go from there. That’s a measure for us to see where we are.”

St John’s are operating with a handful of dual players this season. Work and family commitments led to many players opting for the big or small ball.

“We were able to get a good group of lads around and working hard,” Johnston said of 2024.

“I think we went six or seven games in the league unbeaten at the start. We started picking up injuries then, which is only natural because the injuries we got were in the battle, were in the war.

“We were happy enough with finishing in the top three. It’s a big pressure off a dual club when you’re not having to fight relegation.”

Johnston points to Cargin’s football dominance with one code to focus on. The same with Cushendall, Loughgiel and Dunloy in hurling, while the latter’s football stock has risen.

“That’s not our case,” he said. “We are a dual club and we will always be a dual club. If you have a scenario where you have enough to have 20 lads in a dressing room that play only hurling and 20 lads in the other dressing room that play only football that would be brilliant.

“The reality of it is, St John’s, even though it’s a city club, it’s a small club. Particularly at senior numbers, it would be a small club. Every lad’s a prisoner. It’s no different to a parish team up the country.”

Johnston is a fan of the round-robin nature of the championship in recent seasons. Previously, it would’ve been game over after one day out.

“Now, the lads are getting good competitive games,” he stressed. “The minimum we can go for is three good Senior Championship hurling games.

“If you progress after that, it’s a bonus but that’s super for club hurlers to know that you can get three good competitive championship hurling games in one season.

“These lads are used to getting four or five. I remember the time when we were only lucky to get one or maybe two at a push.”

Ahead of this weekend’s visit to Dunloy, Johnston can remember his last visit.

The crowds came out in their droves, forcing the throw-in to be put back.

“Once the Antrim hurling people get behind the championship and have a look at it, they really go at it and enjoy it,” he concluded. “I don’t think it’ll be any different this year.”