Loughgiel boss PJ O’Mullan has jumped to the defence of Liam Watson, who blames himself for the defending champions not winning last week’s All-Ireland club hurling semi-final.

Liam Watson’s 3-7 was the talk of hurling after Loughgiel Shamrocks won the All-Ireland club final on Saturday last, especially when coupled with his phenomenal tally of 16 points in the Antrim side’s defeat of Limerick and Munster champions Na Piarsaigh in the semi-final.

Hat-trick hero Liam Watson was the toast of Loughgiel this weekend with his 3-7 tally helping to hold off the challenge of hot favourites Coolderry in this All-Ireland club senior hurling final in chilly Croke Park on Saturday.

In defying the bookies’ odds by beating Limerick and Munster champions Na Piarsaigh in the All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final at Parnell Park on Saturday, Loughgiel Shamrocks didn’t just win the right to contest the All-Ireland final on St Patrick’s Day, they also won respect for Antrim hurling.

To lose a county final, at any level, is a huge blow, especially when your club has been in the doldrums for a while; to lose two, devastating, surely. To lose six, then, and to lose those six in succession, how must that feel? How do you come back from that?