Club News

28/07/02 Club captain shows credentials in All-Ireland quarter final

So Antrim finally laid to rest the nightmare of the past few years (which saw them sink to their lowest ever position in Ulster hurling) to register an unrecognisable team performance in Croke Park during yesterday's All-Ireland Quarter Final defeat against Tipperary. And of the many fine individual performances to be found on the field St. John's own senior hurling captain Brian McFall was among the best.

 

It has been a while since one of St. John's sons has reached hurling's highest peak and represented his county in Croke Park and he certainly did not allow the moment to be lost on him. His first half performance was widely regarded as the most influential in the Antrim forward line producing a number of chances for his fellow forwards to score and leaving his Tipperary marker for dust on almost every occasion. The club was in full support for Brian and Antrim yesterday with two busloads of supporters making their way to Dublin and many more making their own way for what was a very special day, despite the eventual defeat.

Brian McFall: "There was no way we were going to come down and bend a knee in Croke Park"

And even for those few club members who were unable to make it to Croke yesterday the atmosphere was electric in Corrigan Park as they cheered on Antrim.

 

Dinny Cahill: "I can see a great future for Antrim hurling"

Dinny Cahill's influence and management has been something of a revelation over the last eight months since taking on the mantle, at a time when Antrim hurling was facing perhaps its darkest hour. A new brand and style of hurling has been instilled within Antrim, and with it the confidence to compete with hurling's superpowers. The poor relation tag was well and truly lost yesterday as the Saffrons played free flowing, attacking hurling pressurising the All-Ireland champions all over the park.

The match itself began according to pre-match predictions, Tipperary registering three early points from Paul and Eoin Kelly and within only two minutes of play the RTE commentators were saying that the signs were very ominous for Antrim, perhaps reinforcing the view and expectation of many that Antrim would be annihilated. However, Antrim began to bring the game to Tipp with points from Liam Watson, Paddy Richmond and Gregory O'Kane and then a surprising goal from a twenty metre free by Watson, somehow managing to get through the crowded Tipperary square, saw Antrim go infront 1-3 to 0-5.

Throughout the first half in corner forward Brian McFall tortured Tipperary's Tom Costello, causing constant problems for Tipperary who simply could not deal with him and finally, in the 27th minute he scored a superb long range point he so richly deserved. Corrigan Park was naturally going nuts at this stage and one can only imagine what it must have been like in Croke Park itself. A second goal expertly taken by Liam Richmond saw Antrim go in at half time 2-6 to 0-10 up.

In the back line few could find fault with any of the players, each man playing their heart out to keep the Tipperary forwards at bay. In particular Kieran Kelly at full back, Mickey Kettle at corner back and the entire half back line, especially Ciaran Herron, were superb.

The second half saw scores harder to come by for Antrim as a few tactical and personnel changes by Nicky English had the desired effect. The ball rarely made it near McFall, or any of the Antrim full forwards, as the Tipperary half backs began to dominate their men. In the end, after a ten minute spell which saw Antrim midfielder Conor Cunning sent off, Tipperary substitute Eugene O'Neill score 1-1 and a string of well taken Tipperary points the match ended 2-12 to 1-25. A difference of ten points but, definitely not a true reflection of the game itself which thoroughly delighted the huge crowd at Croke Park and the television audience throughout Ireland.

A huge boost for Antrim hurling and also for Belfast hurling whose players - Brian McFall, Mickey Kettle, Ciaran Herron, Jim Connolly and Joe Boyle were all outstanding.

Brian McFall on county duty

Brian said of the defeat: "...we went out and done well. Although we didn't get the result we wanted, but that's the way it goes... Its hard to take and we know what we have to do and we'll come back again. We gave a good account of ourselves even though there were 10 points in it at the end. I think the scoreline flattered them a bit; the result doesn't tell the story" A significant boost for St. John's hurling and for any young player's hopes of representing the club at county level.

 

		Antrim
		DD. Quinn
M. Kettle		K. Kelly	J. Campbell
M. McCambridge		K. McKeegan	K. Herron
		C. Cunning J. Connolly
L. Watson		C. McGuckian	L. Richmond
G. O'Kane		P. Richmond	B. McFall
(Subs: A. Delargy for L. Richmond, J. Boyle for J. Connolly, S Delargy for B. McFall)