No 'DUN' Job For Lynch's

REVENGE is a dish best served cold. A year ago the minors of Kevin Lynch’s and Dunloy Cuchullians entered the Ballinascreen field with an hour of hurling standing between them and an Ulster title.

- Orlagh Mullan

That day it was a Conal Doherty Cunning inspired Antrim side that got the better of the Dungiven men to lift the trophy, but the Lynch’s will be hoping it isn’t a case of déjà vu twelve months on.

This time around it is progression on the line rather than the trophy itself, but with a few familiar faces on both sides of the barricade there will be just as much passion as there was in that epic showdown.

For Dunloy Aaron Craw ford, Paddy Graffin, Ryan McGarry, Callum Scullion, Liam McCann and Anton McGrath will have fond memories of that day in ‘Screen, while Sean Kelly, Niall McNicholl, Ruairi Rafferty, Eoghan Cassidy, Stephen Tracey, Padraig O’Kane and Richie Mullan will have no problem motivating themselves for this encounter given previous experience.

Both outfits will be brimming with confidence, with the Antrim side making it three county titles in a row with a victory over Naomh Padraig, while Lynch’s continued their domination of the underage hurling scene in Derry with success over Swatragh in Celtic Park.

KEY BATTLES

Dunloy star forward Sean Elliot scored three of his side’s points in last year’s meeting, but he will miss out on Saturday after suffering an ACL injury in the lead up to the Antrim final. It’s welcome news for the Derry men, who will consider the absence of Elliott and the now departed minor Doherty Cunning as a serious boost to their chances.