Loughgiel Shamrocks corner-forward Joey Scullion believes that coming back from last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat is proof that his side have the mental strength to beat Coolderry in Saturday’s AIB Hurling Senior Club Championship final.
The Antrim and Ulster champions lost out to O’Loughlin Gaels from Kilkenny in last year’s semi-final and had to dig deep in this year’s semi-final, when they were brought to extra time by a late Na Piarsaigh rally, eventually winning by eight points.
Scullion said in the Irish Times: "I’d say an awful lot of it is mental. We believe we have as good a bunch of hurlers as there are in Ireland. Our management believe that, our supporters believe that, but it all boils down to the mental aspect of it.
"That’s true of any sport. But contesting an All-Ireland semi-final last year, and coming up short, and coming back this year, we proved that we were mentally strong enough.
"When it came down to it in the All-Ireland semi-final against Na Piarsaigh, our mental resolve stood to us when the questions were asked.”
Loughgiel’s only All-Ireland success came in 1983, when they also faced Offaly opponents in the form of St Ryanagh’s, winning after a replay.
Scullion says that while the "entire village" will come down to Croke Park for the St Patrick’s Day clash, there isn’t a huge expectation on the team.
“Hurling’s been running through our veins since we were no age, and we’ve been living off the past in terms of success in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s and, of course, the All-Ireland win in 1983.
"At the same time there’s no big expectation on us. We’re travelling down with no baggage, just the opportunity to make our own piece of history,” said the 26-year-old.
The game throws in at 2.00 on Saturday in Croke Park.
You can follow live text commentary of Loughgiel v Coolderry on RTÉ.ie from 1.30pm on St Patrick's Day.
