St. Johns set their stall out early with Fionntain McKillop shooting wide in the first forty seconds of play. This was followed with consecutive wides from Colm McFall and Tony Ferran. Dermot Hartigan then brought down Dunloy's Ryan McErlane some 30m out and Paddy Doherty unbelievably missed the easiest of frees with the sliotar not even managing to make it over the end line.

The sliotar is thrown in

Nerves were obviously playing a big part in the play of both teams at this early stage. On six minutes Adrian Oliver shot just wide of goal for the Johnnies as they pressed. On eight minutes St. Johns Captain Liam Knocker opened the scoring for the day with a lofted high strike from 40m dead in centre of the posts.

But this lead was short lived as a much fitter looking Paddy Doherty latched onto a breaking ball and blasted from 12 yards to give Dunloy the lead against the run of play. John Mead then gathered for St. Johns on the half way line and soloed up-field before releasing a hand-pass to Adrian Oliver who pointed from 15m.

This was followed a minute later when Jimmy Peoples deftly flicked a pass to Liam Knocker who pointed in similar fashion to his first point to level the scores. Dunloy's Kevin McKeague and Paul Shields then collided together and received several minutes of treatment. Colm McFall then won the resulting hop-ball and hand-passed to Tony Ferran who played a low ball into Fionntain McKillop who popped a sharp point over the bar from 15m to give the Johnnies the lead once again after sixteen minutes.

'Scramble for the sliotar'

Soon after Jimmy Peoples collected the ball from a puck out and skipped past three Dunloy defenders to score the sweetest of points from 40m out on the left wing. The skilful, hardworking Ferran collected a breaking ball and shot fiercely between the sticks from 25m to leave St .Johns three points in front. Barry McFall, now in defence was fouled and his brother Colm put the 90m free just wide. Liam Knocker, playing an intelligent game throughout, was then awarded a free (much to the chagrin of the Dunloy support) and Barry McFall slotted over the resulting free with the aid of the Dunloy goal minder's stick.

Liam Knocker and Tony Ferran clear their lines

Adrian Oliver was then fouled on 24 minutes and Jimmy Peoples pointed the subsequent 25m free. On 26 minutes Liam Knocker was fouled with a high challenge to his throat and Dunloy player Paul Shields was subsequently booked. Barry McFall stepped up and calmly pointed the resulting 60m free.

Then on 30 minutes of play Tony Ferran deftly flicked the sliotar up and drove an intelligent low 40m pass to the Dunloy box. The ball was parried however only as far as the 'FOX' Oliver who batted in the rebounding sliotar to leave the scores 1:09 to 1:00 in St. Johns favour. Ferran, having received a hand pass from Liam Boyle after some sterling work shot narrowly wide. Shortly afterwards Conal Maskey showed some neat skill as he flicked the sliotar into his hand with his foot before being fouled again. But this free and another shortly afterwards were both put wide by the Johnnies.

Fionntain 'Horsey' McKillop, who had been gathering good possession all day then shot just wide, after Adrian Oliver went down in the box having receiving a hard 'hit' from his marker Cathair Cunning. The referee, Francis Taylor of Loughgeil, then blew for half time after a 40 minute first half which St. Johns had been in command through out.

The 'high ball'

Denvir Kelly and Ryan Bellingham then lined out in the 2nd half for Dunloy as changes were obviously needed to stem the St. Johns tide. Liam Knocker shot just wide in the first minute of the 2nd half from 35m on the left. Unbelievably Dunloy registered their first wide of the game after 5 minutes of play into the second half. This statistic shows the dominance of the Johnnies 'Septet' The Magificent Seven of 'Paul Gribbin, Kevin Kennedy, Noel Rooney, Dermot Hartigan, Conal Maskey, Simon McCrory and Barry McFall who were all winning their individual battles.

St. John's Captain Liam Knocker

Sean Dowds then fielded superbly after 6 minutes a high cross from Ryan McErlane to the back post and drove past the unprotected 'Paul Gribbin' to give Dunloy a glimmer of hope. Dunloy then substituted Michael Cunning with Niall Chivers and this seemed to prompt a brief revival with Paddy Doherty being fouled and Ryan McErlane pointing the free.

Doherty then pointed from play to leave only 4 points between the sides before Conal Maskey fouled and Sean Dowds pointed the resulting 35m free for Dunloys last score of the game. (St. Johns 1:09 (12) Dunloy 2:03 (9).

Jimmy Peoples, after some good work out on the left wing, delivered a high dropping ball on to the edge of the square for that man John Mead to rise the highest among 6 players to bat to the Dunloy net from 8 yards. Barry McFall put a 65m free just wide moments later and from the puck out Dunloy mount an attack where Kevin Kennedy was clearly fouled by the Dunloy corner forward. He unfortunately retaliated and gave Dunloy an easy free which Ryan McErlane unfortunately put wide - summing up Dunloy's day. Tony Ferran then powered up the right wing for St. Johns and crossed to the back post where Fionntain McKillop fields and hand-passes to Adrian Oliver to hit the net from 6 yards. (3:09 to 2:03)

Twenty three minutes into the 2nd half Noel Rooney, who had been showing commanding form, received a serious facial wound to his cheek as he fell to the ground. He was unfortunately stretchered off to hospital and was replaced by 15 year old Eoghan Caldwell with John Mead switching into full-back and Adrian Oliver moving to midfield.

Noel Rooney is stretchered from the field

Caldwell made his presence felt immediately as, within 2 minutes of his introduction, he deftly hit a one handed 'tennis backhand' shot across the face of the goal to the left corner of the net from 20 yards to register another goal for St. Johns.

The final score

Jimmy Peoples followed suit one minute later when he hit the post with a rasping shot but (more importantly) aggressively followed up the rebound and guided the sliotar to the net for St. Johns fifth goal of the game. Caldwell again won possession and soloed some 40m up the left wing before releasing a shot which Sean Doherty parried for a 45.

With the puck out the final whistle was sounded and St. Johns could at last taste Championship success.

St. Johns didn't make the same mistake they made in their semi-final win over Ballycastle and when push came to shove they powered through any threat Dunloy mustered. Dermot Hartigan (who had to be substituted in last week's U-21 football semi-final after only 3 minutes due to Chicken Pox) was outstanding.

'Up the Johnnies!'

He had the benefit of the 'Power House' John Mead who was the most dominant player on view. Jimmy Peoples again showed the class act that he is despite the heaviest of marking from the Dunloy defence and Tony Ferran's never say die spirit and skill was uplifting.

St. John's 'true bl;ue and white' supporters!

This overall was an excellent team performance with the complete defence of Paul Gribbin, Kevin Kennedy, Noel Rooney ( & Adrian Oliver), Dermot Hartigan, Conal Maskey, Simon McCrory and Barry McFall holding Dunloy to just 4 scores from play over the 70 minutes. Colm McFall won his midfield battle and Captain Liam Knocker played an intelligent game. Noel Rooney, before his unfortunate injury, was superb at full-back.

Adrian Oliver who battled through the closest of attention from his marker was excellent and finished top scorer on the day.

Fionntain McKillop was sharp and collected great possession through out the game. Liam Boyle came good when it mattered most when Dunloy rallied and can feel contented with his performance which ultimately was the bravest of the day.

St. John's Minor hurlers receive the cup

Naturally the players, mentors and supporters celebrated long into the night at Corrigan Park.

Celbrations in Corrigan Park

Music, food and craic were the order of the day back at the Club with the players, mentors and their families enjoying the taste of victory and recounting stories of the match, together with many of the 1981 minor championship winning team. A day to remember, an Ulster championship to look forward to and a title on which, hopefully, to build future success at senior level.

St. Johns: 1.Paul Gribbin 2.Kevin Kennedy 3.Noel Rooney 4.Dermot Hartigan 5.Conal Maskey 6.Simon McCrory 7.Barry McFall 8.John Mead 9. Colm McFall 10.Tony Ferran 11.Liam Knocker (Captain) 12.Jimmy Peoples 13.Liam Boyle 14.Adrian Oliver 15.Fionntain McKillop
Substitutes: 16.Eoghan Caldwell for Noel Rooney 57 minutes.
17.Gerard McCann 18.Peter McGarrity 19.Conor McSteen 20. Ciaran McCurdy (broken leg, now mended!) 21 Kevin McGuinness(Injured in Mageean Cup semi-final on Tuesday)
St. Johns Scorers: Adrian Oliver 2:01, Jimmy Peoples 1:02(1f),John Mead 1:00, Eoghan Caldwell 1:00, Liam Knocker 0:02, Barry McFall 0:02(2f), Fionntain McKillop 0:01, Tony Ferran 0:01.
St. Johns Wides: 13

Manager: Joe McCallin
Assistant Manager: Colm McFall
Trainor: Andrew McCallin
Mentors: Paddy Morgan Robbie McConnell, Michael Johnston.
First Aid: Robbie McConnell (Junior)

Dunloy: 1.Sean Doherty 2.Kevin McKeague 3.Cathair Cunning 4.Ciaran Taylor 5.David Hickens 6.Paul Shields 7.Conor McKinley 8.Kevin McQuillan 9.Niall Quinn 10.Johnny Dooey 11.Sean Dowds 12.Fergal McClements 13.Michael Cunning 14.Paddy Doherty 15.Ryan McErlane
Substitutes: 16.Gabriel McTaggart 17.Denvir Kelly 18.Niall Shivers 19.Conor McErlane 20.Eoin Scott 21.Ryan Bellingham 22.Dominic McMullan 23.Damian Kelly.
Dunloy Scorers: Sean Dowds 1:01, Paddy Doherty 1:01, Ryan McErlane 0:01(1f).
Dunloy Wides: 5

Referee: Francis Trainor: Loch gCaol.
Umpires: Jim Kerr St. Endas & Frankie('The Tan') Quinn Cushendall.
Booked: Tony Ferran St.Johns, Ciaran Taylor & Paul Shields Dunloy
Sent Off: Ciaran Taylor Dunloy (2 Yellow cards)