St John's edge Loughgiel in Antrim hurling thriller

St John's ended their 52-year wait for Antrim senior hurling honours with a 2-16 to 1-18 win over Loughgiel at a wet and windy Ballycastle.

The Belfast club were never behind in the contest as they always seemed to find a score when they needed with the Shamrocks snapping at their heels.

Loughgiel went into the game as favourites to end their own nine-year wait for the Volunteer Cup, and although they were right in contention to the end, they never quite got a firm grip on this final.

Instead, it was St John's who played the occasion brilliantly to capture the club's eighth senior hurling title and first since 1973 amid chaotic and joyous scenes after the final whistle.

"I've said it before, but it's the resilience in this team," said St John's manager Gerard Cunningham.

"We weren't behind there today as we got the first scores. They came back at us again, but we were always able to go and get that next score. It' just unbelievable."

If there was any suggestion St John's would be burdened by the occasion, it certainly didn't show as they were much the better side in the early stages.

Oisin MacManus gave them the lead, with Conor Johnston landing two and Shea Shannon converting a pair of frees.

Their intensity and short passing game was working well in difficult conditions with a strong cross-field wind, as Loughgiel looked well off the pace until Paul Boyle finally got them moving with a 14th-minute score.

The Shamrocks would come to life with five of the next seven scores with Boyle beginning to get into a flow, Rian McMullan and Ruairi McCormick pointing on the run, while James McNaughton was accurate from the placed ball to get to within one.

McNaughton tested St John's goalkeeper Domhnall Nugent with a low shot that was turned out for a 65 that he pointed to level, but this would be as good as it got for Loughgiel.

St John's had struck some poor wides, but on 29 minutes, Donal Carson got onto a delivery, wriggled free and hit the net with a goal that proved the difference at the half with the Johnnies 1-8 to 0-8 ahead.

Johnston pointed just seconds after the restart, but Loughgiel ate into the lead and got to within one, yet St John's always found an answer and after Aaron Bradley pointed, MacManus was presented with a goal chance, but shot at Cormac McFadden.

However, he would make no mistake when presented with another chance in the 39th minute to put two goals between the teams.

Loughgiel weren't for folding and on 44 minutes, were right back in it when a flowing move saw Dan McCloskey pop substitute Shan McGrath in to find the net.

McNaughton brought the gap to two, but again the Johnnies responded when they needed to and Conall Bohill and Johnston pointed.

Three points was the gap late on when Peter McCallin made an incredible block on the advancing Ben McGarry, but Loughgiel were back to within one following a pair of Christy McGarry frees in added time.

However, with the final play, St John's won possession and managed to drain the final seconds to spark euphoric scenes as the Belfast club returned to the top in Antrim after that 52-year wait.

St John's: D Nugent (0-1 f); R McNulty, Ciaran Johnston, J Bohill; C Morgan, P McCallin, E McGurk; S Wilson, A Bradley (0-2); O Donnelly, Conor Johnston (0-4), C Bohill (0-1); D Carson (1-0), S Shannon (0-5, 4f), O MacManus (1-2).

Subs: M Dudley (0-1) for S Wilson (38), M Bradley for D Carson (47), R Donnelly for Ciaran Johnston (59), D McGuinness for O MacManus (60+2).

Loughgiel: C McFadden; T Coyle, E Og McGarry, L Glackin; B McGarry, R McCloskey, Declan McCloskey; R McKee, R McCormick (0-1); R McMullan (0-1), J McNaughton (0-10, 8f, 1 65), D Patterson; R McGarry, P Boyle (0-2), Dan McCloskey (0-1).

Subs: S McGrath (1-1) for D Patterson (36), C McGarry (0-2f) for R McCormick (54), R Fitzgerald for R McGarry (56).

Referee: C Cunning (Dunloy)