St John's 2-16 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-18
St John's ended a 52-year wait for an Antrim SHC title following a one-point win against Loughgiel Shamrocks in Ballycastle.
The weather no doubt had its say on the affair with the ball refusing to bounce in any helpful way possible.
The Johnnies held the half in their favour, as predicted they were masters of winning the dirty ball, anything that required a dog fight they rose to the occasion in the opening period in Ballycastle. The ever present Ends McGurk and Peter McCallin managed to out-strengthen 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.
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. Donal Carson's goal opened the first major gap in the opening period as St John's looked to put their heavy possession and ability to overturn the ball to good use on the scoreboard. Shea Shannon and James McNaughton offered up and exhibition in free-taking with both men proving deadly from range for their respective side.
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 score twice in stoppage time to reduce the deficit to a single score.
The St John’s defence remained resolute, limiting the oppositions 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.
St John's: Domhnall Nugent (0-01); Ryan McNulty, Ciaran Johnston (C), Jack Bohill; Conal Morgan, Peter McCallin, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Aaron Bradley (0-02); Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston (0-04), Conall Bohill (0-01); Donal Carson (1-00), Shea Shannon (0-05, 4fs), Oisin McManus (1-02)
Subs: Lorcan Heenan on for Conall Bohill, David Robinson on for Oisin McManus, Ronan Donnelly on for Ciaran Johnston, Michael Dudley (0-01) on for Sean Wilson, Michael Bradley on for Donal Carson.
Loughiel Shamrocks: Cormac McFadden; Tiernan Coyle (C), Enda Óg McGarry, Liam Glackin; Ben McGarry, Rory McCloskey, Declan McCloskey; Ryan McKee, Ruairi McCormick (0-01); Rian McMullan (0-01), James McNaughton (0-10, 8fs, 1 '65), Darragh Patterson; Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Dan McCloskey
Subs: Shane McGrath (1-01) on for Darragh Patterson, Charley O’Hagan (0-02, 2fs) on for Ruairi McCormick
