Hurling - Death by a thousand cuts

Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Antrim 3-28 Derry 0-14 Steven Doherty reports from the Athletic Grounds DERRY hurlers were finally put out of their misery when defeat at the hands of Antrim in the Ulster Championship on Sunday finally brought the curtain down on a wretched season. The Saffrons, going for their 15th consecutive Ulster title and with the small matter of the Christy Ring Final replay on the near horizon, had everything to play for. Opponents Derry only yearned for an end to a season to forget. It has been death by a thousand cuts. And with speculation that Derry will not field in their last completely unnecessary Ulster Championship/Shield play-off this weekend, 2016 can be confined to the hurling dustbin. Manager Tom McLean, his fellow coaches and dedicated backroom staff have been heroic in a year where it would have been all too easy to turn the back and walk away. Defeat after defeat has a corrosive effect and can do little other than damage your love of the sport. The players, too, deserve more. They deserve a break; a change in fortune; their luck to turn. Goalkeeper Darrell McDermott outstanding, fearless saves have kept Derry in manys a game throughout the season. Full-back Conor Quinn has minded the house in front of the ‘Sticks’ all year. The McCloskey brothers, Conor McSorley, Paddy Kelly, Eugene McGuckin and Brian Og McGilligan have all manned a defence that has faced serious onslaught. Na Magha clubmen Breandan Quigley and Alan Grant have sat just in front. Slaughtneil men Mark McGuigan, Meehaul McGrath and Gareth O’Kane have come on board this season and made a real impact. Shane Farren from Banagher, 'Screen's Paul Cleary and Sean Francis Quinn from Swatragh have toiled lone furrows up front all year. The evergreen Micky Conway. Youngsters Deaglan Foley and Anton Rafferty. Paddy Henry has battled injury all season before making a scoring return on Sunday. And captain Sean McCullagh of course. McCullagh has been peerless this season in a losing cause, leading by example with that inspirational mix of aggression and defiance. You can keep your John Terry, give me Sean McCullagh every time. You look at the likes of Ruairi Convery – a man who commands the respect of the hurling community across the country. A man who owes Derry nothing but continues to lace up the boots every week because the county needs him, even in the late autumn of his career. The big man deserves to go out on some sort of a high, not after a pasting in Armagh. A small dedicated band of brothers and sisters have followed Derry hurlers through thick and thin this season, but mainly thin. And that group of fans has gradually receded to a trickle as Derry found themselves travelling to Newry and Leitrim for needless, unappealing play-off games. Tom McLean spoke from the heart a couple of weeks ago when he said that only ‘hurling men’ can sort out Derry’s malaise. And he appealed to the clubs. He appealed to the stay-away players. ‘Get behind your county, get on board. Help.’ Derry's hurling clubs Even the most cursory glance at Derry’s club hurling scene reveals the high calibre of hurlers in this county. Slaughtneil lead the way and dine regularly at the top table. To witness any Emmets' exhibition is to fall immediately in love with the game. Coleraine, too, caught the nation's attention when they made it to an All Ireland final last year and should have won it. The Kevin Lynch’s, Ballinascreen, Swatragh, Banagher, Lavey – all clubs steeped in a rich tradition of Ulster hurling. Na Magha in the city, growing year on year and making huge strides forward. Great clubs, good players, hurling men. This is where the answer to Derry’s hurling problem lie. ‘Hurling men’ need to sit down and sort the blueprint for a better future for the county’s hurlers, as Tom McLean quite rightly believes. Either that or continue as we are – going backwards. Club AND county. Together. Going forward. Winning games. Bringing success. Growing the greatest sport in the world in our own back yard. Nobody that worked their socks off on the pitch or behind the scenes for Derry hurling deserves to be coming home from Armagh on Father’s Day after a 23 point hammering. The Saffrons led 1-16 to five points at the break, and while the men in the red and white jerseys refused to buckle, they never stood a chance. The returning Paddy Henry would score six points. Big Ruairi, with the radar a little off-kilter for once, still managed five. Oisin McCloskey, Mark McGuigan and Conor McSorley all converted a point each as Antrim ran riot up the other end. Sean McCullagh was sent off in the 64th minute – the Banagher man probably trying too hard, and like every good captain going down with his ship. The slick stickwork that was so evident last season has long since evaporated this year and confidence has nose-dived as the losses have racked up. But still they showed up. Still they togged out. Still they battled for Derry. Valour in the face of relentless adversity. Tell me these men don’t deserve better. Tell me Derry hurling doesn’t deserve better than that? Antrim: Eoin Gillen, Simon McCrory, Tony McCloskey, Bernard Graham, Odhran McFadden, Neal McAuley, John Dillon, Eoghan Campbell, Daniel McKernan, Eddie McCloskey, Niall McKenna, Conor Johnston, Nigel Elliott, PJ O’Connell, Ciaran Clarke Subs: Benny McCarry for PJ O’Connell (46), Sean McAfee for N Elliott (54), Fergus Donnelly for T McCloskey (56), Michal Dudley for D McKernan (58), Colm Duffy for J Dillon (62) Derry: Darrell McDermott, Darragh McCloskey, Conor Quinn, Eugen McGuckin, Sean McCullagh, Conor McSorley, Breandan Quigley, Brian Og McGilligan, Oisin McCloskey, Alan Grant, Tiarnan McCloskey, Ruairi Convery, Mark McGuigan, Paddy Henry, Gareth O’Kane Subs: Paul Cleary for G O’Kane (52) Referee: James Clarke (Cavan)