For the first time since 2004, Dunloy Cúchullains have reached the All-Ireland club hurling final after an impressive victory over St Thomas' of Galway at Croke Park.
Manager Gregory O’Kane played that day, almost 19 seasons ago, and he was on hand to guide his gutsy troops over the line.
Conal Cunning dusted himself down to put a first half penalty miss behind him to lead his side to their fifth ever final. Keelan Molloy’s 45th-minute wonder goal was enough for the Antrim men to withstand anything the Galway men threw at them.
The loss of Darragh Burke to a knee injury during the warm up seemed to unsettle St Thomas' greatly. In sharp contrast the Ulster champions shot out of the blocks thanks to provincial final goal scorer Nigel Elliott and a classy Cunning score.
In the reshuffle, Bernard Farrell started on the edge of square and the Galway side used the target man sparingly to mixed effect. Conor Cooney and Damien McGlynn’s mazy run soon had his teammates up and running.
The sides would be level four times in a dogged first half showing. Both outfits struggling to find the range, totalling fifteen wides between them. Dunloy guilty of nine and a missed penalty. After Mark Caulfield put St Thomas’ 0-05 to 0-03 in front, Seaan Elliott worked a marvellous goal chance with Decky Smith.
Elliott was bound for a certain goal in front of the Canal end but was hauled down by Cooney for the pivotal penalty. St. Thomas’ goalkeeper Gerald Kelly dived to right to save magnificently from Cunning. A glorious opportunity for Dunloy to get back into the semi final but one that motivated Cunning after the break.
Cunning and Molloy dug deep to respond straightaway to Cooney again to make 0-06 a piece at half time. Despite all the waste, Cúchullains were right in the game. Tribesman Cooney was guilty of a glut of missed frees while his side was on top. That would prove costly for Kenneth Burke’s men. In a show of defiance, Cunning was determined to atone for the penalty miss in the second half. The lethal attacker landed the first three points upon the resumption as the sharpshooter made certain that no blame would be laid upon his shoulders for defeat.
David Burke, although wayward with some efforts from distance, really stood up for his faltering side. Hoovering up possession and plucking a memorable high catch. Just when it looked Conor Cooney handed St Thomas’ a lifeline with a free, Keelan Molloy with a short grip, raced right through the heart of the Galway defence to bury past Gerald Kelly.
With a six point cushion, Dunloy were able to cushion a four point run from the Galway men. Cooney and Mark Caulfield with his second, to the fore. However thanks to full back Ryan McGarry, Dunloy weathered the storm and struck three points in two minutes.
Half-back Eamon Smyth with the clincher. That terrific score gave the Glensmen an All-Ireland final to look forward to in the New Year.
Dunloy Cúchullains: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Ryan McGarry, Orán Quinn; Aaron Crawford, Kevin Molloy, Eamon Smyth (0-01); Conor Kinsella, Eoin McFerran; Nigel Elliott (0-02), Keelan Molloy (1-02), Ronan Molloy; Decky Smith Conal Cunning (0-07, 0-01 65’, 0-03f), Seaan Elliott (0-01).
Subs: Anton McGrath (0-01) for Smith (30), Paul Shield for Crawford (33), Nickey McKeaguefor N Elliott (58). Gabriel McTaggart for R Molloy (62).
St Thomas’: Gerald Kelly; Cian Mahony, John Headd, Fintan Burke; Evan Duggan (0-01), David Burke, Cathal Burke; Conor Cooney (0-06, 0-04f), Bernard Burke; Mark Caulfield (0-02), Damien McGlynn (0-02), Victor Manso; Oisín Flannery (0-01); Brendan Farrell, Éanna Burke (0-01).Subs: Conor Headd for Farrell (ht), Shane Cooney for Manso (42), Darragh Burke for Caulfield (53).
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
