ULSTER SHC: Box office hurling as Ulster titans prepare for another tussle

Ulster SHC final
Slaughtneil v Dunloy (Antrim)
Sun Dec 4 @ 1.30pm
Athletic Grounds, Armagh
Ref: Peter Owens (Down)

2017 seems a long time ago now, but the traffic that queued from the far side of Dungiven to get into Owenbeg for the first meeting of this modern rivalry told its own story.

This is the box office fixture for Ulster hurling and has been since the Cúchullain's lifted that 2017 Antrim title; their first Volunteer Cup since 2009.

Since then, the sides have met in Newry for the 2019 Ulster final and again in Armagh for last December's semi final. On all three occasions the results was the same; victory for the Emmet's.

Slaughtneil have dominated the Derry hurling scene for the last decade, winning ten titles in a row, but this Dunloy side have been building their own empire across the Bann.

After their breakthrough, they were ambushed by rivals Loughgiel in the following year's semi final, but composed themselves again and won the next four titles.

Gregory O'Kane's side are beginning to show the signs of serial champions; coming good at the right time. Slaughtneil have been doing it for years.

Both teams had long lay-offs after winning their respective county finals.

The Emmet's faced an eight-week wait before their Ulster semi final win over Portaferry; Dunloy will have had seven weeks by the time this game rolls around after their October 14 win over Cushendall.

Michael McShane's side blew away the cobwebs in the second half in Corrigan Park, racking up 2-24 in their victory over the Mournemen.

It was an extra game under the belt also for Brendan Rogers, who hit 0-3 in his second game since his return from injury in the county final win over Kevin Lynch's.

Meehaul McGrath during last year's clash. Pic: John McIlwaine/The Saffron Gael.

The versatile Rogers was man of the match in last year's Ulster semi final, hitting 1-4 and proving impossible for the Cúchullain's to curtail.

With both teams now very familiar with one another, the match-ups become even more crucial.

Last year, Shane McGuigan picked up Keelan Molloy to good effect, limiting the Antrim star to a single point, but the Emmet's man has been scoring at will this season.

Adept at finding the target with the big ball, he has notched 0-8 in his last two games with the sliotar and was a threat both inside and from midfield against the Down champions.

The shackling of Molloy may well be tasked to Chrissy McKaigue to allow McGuigan more leeway to attack.

Jerome McGuigan and the experienced Gerald Bradley were sprung from the bench at Corrigan Park and both could be in contention for a starting place on Sunday.

McGuigan rifled home a goal, while Bradley's influence in the Dunloy game last year was instrumental in the sweeper role, freeing up captain Cormac O'Doherty to deliver his trademark passes.

The return of Nigel Elliott to the Dunloy line-up after his Australian hiatus is another curve ball for Slaughtneil in comparison to last year.

Slaughtneil will face Nigel Elliott for the first time since 2019. Pic: Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile.

His pace and finishing prowess is a problem for which Michael McShane will need to find an answer, while the white-hot form of full forward Conal Cunning will also need to be dealt with.

Cunning was named Joe McDonagh player of the year, as well as picking up Antrim All-Star and player of the year awards in both codes.

The dead ball specialist led the scoring for the Cúchullain's in 2021 and 2019, with 0-6 and 0-7 to his name against the Emmet's and full back Karl McKaigue may have his hands full with the dual star.

County final match winner Chrissy McMahon is unlikely to feature – pictured recently sporting a moon boot – while there may be some doubt over the fitness of the experienced Paul Shields.

Brian Cassidy was untouchable for the Emmet's last weekend, firing home 1-7, including a superbly taken sideline from the right flank.

Either side of Cassidy in the Portaferry game were Ulster debutants Ruairí Ó Mianáin and Peter McCullagh, and though they asserted themselves well, Dunloy will feel they have an advantage here.

Eamonn Smyth and Aaron Crawford lined out at 5 and 7 in the county final, and may feel they can edge the battle on experience and physicality.

KEY QUESTIONS

Who will pick up Brendan Rogers?

Rogers ran riot in Armagh last year and Dunloy will need to avoid a repeat to have any chance of defeating Slaughtneil at the fourth attempt.

Aaron Crawford may have the correct mix of pace, skill and strength to match the Emmet's man, while the Cúchullain's may opt to keep Ryan McGarry at 3 in the absence of the injured Conor McKinley.

Will Gerald Bradley start?

Bradley performed the sweeper role to perfection in the second half of last year's semi final, stifling the supply to Dunloy's talented full forward line.

He featured as a second-half substitute for the Emmet's in their win over Portaferry and with his ability and experience, this could be a case of horses for courses.

Can Dunloy unlock the Slaughtneil defence?

They hit two goals in the 2017 encounter, but in the two subsequent games, the Cúchullain's have been unable to find the net, despite raising a number of green flags in Antrim.

They have the firepower, but the Emmet's also have the personnel to close the door. If Dunloy are to threaten Slaughtneil, you get the feeling a goal will be vital.

Consistency

Over their three recent encounters, the winning margin has been almost identical. Seven in 2017. Eight in 2019. Seven again last year. An average of 7.6pts.

It would be unfair to suggest the sides haven't improved – they undoubtedly have – but the onus is on Dunloy to come and take Slaughtneil's crown.

The myth of skill against brawn that so irked Michael McShane in 2019 has been banished to the bar stools and the Emmet's are a side confident in their own skin with an ability to cut loose.

So too are the Cúchullain's, whose hunger for a first Ulster title in more than 13 years has heightened with every hoist of the Volunteer Cup.

ULSTER SHC: Slaughtneil adapting and evolving, says McKaigue

The experienced centre back said both Dunloy and Slaughtneil have moved forward.

Now-manager Gregory O'Kane shot 0-4 in 2009, and if he is to repeat that Ulster victory from the sideline, his side will need a monumental effort to shift the champions.

Slaughtneil should have the nous and ability to retain their title, but if Dunloy can find Oisín O'Doherty's net, the Emmet's may face a new problem.

Verdict: Slaughtneil

Slaughtneil (v Portaferry): Oisín O'Doherty, Paul McNeill, Karl McKaigue, Conor McAllister, Sean Cassidy, Chrissy McKaigue, Meehaul McGrath, Shane McGuigan, Cormac O'Doherty, Peter McCullagh, Brian Cassidy, Ruairí Ó Mianáin, Brendan Rogers, Sé McGuigan, Shéa Cassidy

Dunloy (v Cushendall): Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Ryan McGarry, Oran Quinn; Aaron Crawford, Kevin Molloy, Eamonn Smyth; Paul Shiels, Eoin McFerran; Ronan Molloy, Gabriel McTaggart, Nigel Elliott; Keelan Molloy, Conal Cunning, Seaan Elliott