Keeper McGhee unfazed by Monday’s date with All-Ireland club history

HE is the baby of the Dunloy team. But this Monday, in the All-Ireland club hurling final against reigning champions Birr, in front of a paying audience of over 30,000 in Croke Park and a live TV audience in the millions, 20-year-old Gareth McGhee will be in the most responsible position of all.

Fazed? Are you serious? Gareth McGhee seems cool, so cool that this Monday's fixture might could just as well be an early-season challenge match. He has just come in from training, lounging easily in the kitchen of their fabulous new pavilion, arms folded, holding court. Goalkeeper isn't exactly the position most coveted by kids in the schoolyard growing up. Most have to be pressured into the position, persuaded with promises of being allowed outfield 'later', or bribed, or even threatened.

Not so with Gareth. "I was no good anywhere else!", he says with a grin, so which you know it must be a lie. "I always admired Shane Elliott (previous incumbent) when he was in goal, a good keeper you know. I watched him in the club finals, '95, '96, the craic was unbelievable then nobody could believe it, an All-Ireland final. You see it, you want to get to one yourself, and win it. I watched him with Antrim for years as well, just took a fancy to it."

A standout from the beginning, Gareth has played for Antrim at every level from U-14 up. He started his club senior apprenticeship three years ago under the great man, the idol of his youth, but has been out then out on his own since last year, and there since. He exudes the confidence that's an absolute pre-requisite for success at any level, but most especially at the top.

Gareth has absolute belief that Dunloy are going to win this game and topple Birr, simultaneously. creating and denying history. Dunloy are looking for their first All-Ireland title, Birr attempting to become the first hurling club in hurling to win four.

"I think a lot of Northern teams have this thing in their heads that they can't win it, but since Gerry O'Neill (coach from Tipperary) came up here, everybody has got it in their heads that they can win it. Birr are a great team, won three, going now to win the fourth, but if all our lads play at the level they're capable of for the full hour, we can win it. We played them last year, should have beaten them. They came out in the second half, a couple of lucky balls, a goal for them off a deflection, a goal we missed because it hit their keeper when he was well beaten, our heads dropped, that was it. We know a lot about them, they know about us too. It's going to be a good game".