The Whiterock road men are the first team from Belfast to win the Volunteer Cup since Rossa in 2004
Bathshack Antrim SHC final: St John’s 2-16 Loughgiel 1-18
St John’s have been crowned Antrim senior hurling champions for the first time 1973 after a narrow one-point win over Loughgiel in Ballycastle.
The West Belfast men, who lost six semi-finals in seven seasons, could not have dreamt of a better start as they led 0-4 to no-score after 10 minutes.
Oisin MacManus and Conor Johnson landed early points from play before back-to-back frees from Shea Shannon had St John’s on top as Loughgiel registered three wides.
Conor Johnston then moved his side five clear with a classy effort from play after 13 minutes while the Shamrocks finally got off the mark one minute later via Paul Boyle.
MacManus replied with his second before James McNaughton hit a free after 15 minutes.
Ryan McKee then set up his midfield colleague Ruairi McCormick for a cracking point from play as Loughgiel began to find their feet with Boyle adding another point from play to cut the gap to two.
Shannon and McNaughton exchanged frees late in the half while Rian McMullan’s brilliant solo effort left just one between the teams after 27 minutes.
First real goal chance of note fell to the Shamrocks with McMullan’s next attempt dropped short, but McNaughton’s shot was superbly saved by Domhnall Nugent at the expense of a 65, which McNaughton landed.
The response from the Johnnies was empathic as Donal Carson cut past Tiernan Coyle and fired into the net on the cusp of half-time.
McNaughton and Shannon were on target with frees in stoppage time with St John’s leading 1-8 to 0-8 at the break.
A goal on 41 minutes from MacManus gave Gerard Cunningham’s side some breathing space, but it was to be short lived as they were force to live on their neves in the final quarter.
A goal from Shan McGrath cut the gap back to three points and, with just five minutes remaining, Peter McCallin made a great block to deny Ben McGarry.
McNaughton’s accuracy let him down at crucial stages late on, but Loughgiel closed the gap to the minimum at the end with back-to-back points from Charley O’Hagan.
However, St John’s were not to be denied as became the first team since Rossa in 2004 to bring the Volunteer Cup b ack to Belfast.
St John’s scorers: Shea Shannon 0-5 (0-4fs), Oisin McManus 1-2, Conor Johnston 0-4, Donal Carson 1-0, Aaron Bradley 0-2, Domhnall Nugent 0-1 (0-1f), Conall Bohill 0-1,Michael Dudley 0-1.
Loughgiel scorers: James McNaughton 0-10 (0-8f, 0-1 65), Shan McGrath 1-1, Charley O’Hagan 0-2 (0-2fs), Ruairi McCormick 0-1, Rian McMullan 0-1.
#Johns #52year #famine #win #Antrim #SHC #title #Loughgiel
