St John’s end long wait to reclaim Antrim hurling crown

Half a century after their last county title, St John’s finally returned to the summit of Antrim hurling.

St John's won their first Antrim SHC title since 1973 with victory over Loughgiel Shamrocks. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Antrim SHC final: St John’s 2-16 (22) Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-18 (21) 

Belfast hurling is well and truly back after St John’s ended over half a century of hurt to become Antrim kings once more after they overcame the odds to defeat Loughgiel in Ballycastle on Sunday afternoon.

The Johnnies held the first half in their favour, As predicted they were masters of winning the dirty ball; anything that required a dogfight they rose to the occasion in the opening period.

The ever-present Enda McGurk and Peter McCallin managed to outmuscle their opponents in the opening stages in the backline as the Johnnies forwards got into their stride pointing six scores with only a single in reply through McNaughton for Shamrocks.

James McNaughton and Paul Boyle were the bright spots for Shamrocks as they struck six of their eight points between them but the five wides proved to be telling of their first half of hurling.

Domhnall Nugent’s spectacular stop to prevent McNaughton was the first chance for a major but it was the Belfast side who would strike the first goal when Donal Carson evaded the oncoming defenders to short-puck a strike into the back of the net.

Both sides showed their prowess from the dead-ball as Shannon and McNaughton tallied four points apiece for their side. Shannon closed the half with a tremendous free, leaving the Johnnies a goal ahead at the break.

The second half started frantically with both Shannon and McNaughton pointing for their sides but the Johnnies determination to continue overturning the ball was a key aspect of their game which maintained throughout.

Oisin McManus found space and thumped his effort into the goal to increase St John’s lead to six points before Shan McGrath would find the net for Loughgiel as his goal managed to get his side within three scores of the Johnnies.

With just the five minutes left of play, Peter McCallin blocked Ben McGarry's goal-bound effort much to the jubilation of the Corrigan Park faithful in attendance.

McNaughton’s free taking excellence hit a rocky patch and with two wides at crucial moments giving St John’s much needed relief. The north Antrim natives looked to regain the initiative in the latter stages as O’Hagan managed to point twice in stoppage time to reduce the deficit to the minimum.

The St John’s defence remained resolute, limiting the opposition's chances and when the Belfast side won the final puck out the whistle was blown and St John’s were crowned kings of Antrim for the first time since 1973.

Scorers for St John’s: O MacManus (1-2), S Shannon (0-5, 4f), Conor Johnston (0-4), D Carson (1-0), A Bradley (0-2); D Nugent (0-1 f); C Bohill, M Dudley (0-1 each).

Scorers for Loughgiel: J McNaughton (0-10, 8f, 1 65), S McGrath (1-1), C McGarry (0-2f) P Boyle (0-2), Dan McCloskey R McCormick, R McMullan (0-1 each).

ST JOHN’S: D Nugent; R McNulty, Ciaran Johnston, J Bohill; C Morgan, P McCallin, E McGurk; S Wilson, A Bradley; O Donnelly, Conor Johnston, C Bohill; D Carson, S Shannon, O MacManus. Subs: M Dudley for Wilson (38), M Bradley for Carson (47), R Donnelly for Ciaran Johnston (59), D McGuinness for MacManus (60+2).

LOUGHGIEL: C McFadden; T Coyle, E Og McGarry, L Glackin; B McGarry, R McCloskey, Declan McCloskey; R McKee, R McCormick; R McMullan, J McNaughton, D Patterson; R McGarry, P Boyle, Dan McCloskey.

Subs: S McGrath for D Patterson (36), C McGarry for R McCormick (54), R Fitzgerald for R McGarry (56).

Referee: C Cunning (Dunloy).