15 July 2009
When Antrim take the field for Sunday’s eagerly awaited Ulster final against All Ireland Champions, Tyrone Niall McKeever of Casement’s, Portglenone is likely to occupy one of the mid-field positions. Young McKeever has been a revelation in what has turned out to be an excellent year for Antrim under the guidance of Derry man Liam Bradley.
Bradley has guided Antrim to promotion from Division 4 in his first year in charge and an Antrim team playing out of their skins has reached their first Ulster final in 39 years. They travelled to Ballybofey as rank outsiders but came away with a narrow 1 point win, thanks to some excellent defending and some wayward shooting from an out of sorts Donegal side. Much was made of the fact that the Tir Connaill men kicked 18 wides in the game but Bradley was quick to point out that the speed of his side to close them down and deny them space while in possession contributed in no small way to Donegal’s wides tally.
The win in Ballybofey provided a much needed shot in the arm to an often maligned Antrim team and supporters travelled in great numbers to Clones last Saturday night for their semi-final meeting with Cavan. Antrim won by three points but most observers were of the opinion that the margin of victory should have been much greater such was the dominance of this young Antrim side.
McKeever was just one of the stars on the night and his fielding early in the game was quite spectacular as he rose to the clouds to catch cleanly and distribute intelligently. Young McKeever looks set for a career in Australian Rules football when ever Antrim’s championship run comes to an end but the Saffron’s support will be hoping that it wont be for a while yet. Indeed there is a growing belief amongst the Antrim faithful that their county might just topple the mighty Tyrone with Niall McKeever well to the fore in their quest for further success.
This week I bumped into an old friend, Tony McAtamney who like McKeever played for Casements Portglenone and for his beloved Antrim for many years. Like Niall, Tony played at mid-field for the Saffrons and was part of the team who lost to Derry in the 1970 final in Clones. I went to see him at his Deramore home in Ballymena where he has resided for many years and over a cup of tea we talked about 1970 and Antrim’s last Ulster final appearance.
Like the present Antrim side, Tony and his colleagues travelled to Ballybofey in the opening round of the 1970 championship and came away with a well deserved win. Tony didn’t remember the exact score but thought that there was possibly six or eight points in it in the end. The Tir Connaill men were no slouches at the time with Ferter and the Gallaghers prominent in their side.
Down provided the opposition in the semi-final and were expected to be too strong for the Saffrons but again the ‘Glensmen’ came out on top to set up a final meeting with neighbours Derry in the final. “ We got off to a terrible start” Tony recalled and were six points down before we finally woke up to the fact that we were in an Ulster final.” After that Antrim started to play their way into the game and dominated for long periods. Fortune didn’t favour them in the end however as they missed a penalty and then Gerry McCann stubbed the ground with his foot after rounding the Derry keeper and missed an open goal.
“we had a good team at that time. Frank Fitzsimmons of Lamh Dearg was my midfield partner while Gerry MacRory, Gerry McCann, Aidan Hamill and Andy McCallion were also prominent at the time” “Like now there were a good balance of South West and South Antrim players with Seamus Killough, Dessie McNeill, Alistair Scullion, Raymond Graffin, Owen Ruddy and Gerry Dillon amongst the South West representation”.
Despite it being 39 years since that day in Clones Tony was still able to name me the team that played without reference to a programme. As he recalls it was Ray McIlroy: Jim Ward, John Burns, Eamon Grieve: Seamus Killough, Liam Millar, Dessie McNeill: Tony McAtamney (Capt), Frank Fitzsimmon: Gerry McCann, Gerry MacRory, Terry Dunlop: Aidan Hamill, Owen Ruddy, Andy McCallion. Subs: Alistair Scullion, Raymond Graffin, Gerry Dillion, D.Burns, M McGranaghan, Gingo McGroggan.
Despite defeat it was great occasion recalled the ‘Big Man’ who finished his playing career with All Saint’s and lined out at full-forward for the Ballymena men with his son Enda in one corner and his nephew, Barney McCann in the other when he was 45 years old. Big Tony was still giving full-backs in Antrim’s ACFL Division 3 a torrid time even in the twilight years of his career.
I asked him about the present Antrim team and he had nothing but the highest praise for them and the brand of football they have been playing this season. “ I was impressed by their work rate, their defending and their team spirit” he said. “Against Cavan in the semi-final Antrim brought their game to a different level and their running with the ball and off the ball was excellent. They worked very well as a team” he thought and he was most impressed by their level of fitness.
“Had they any chance against the All Ireland champions?” I asked. Big Tony smiled and said “Why not its 15 men against 15 men and if Antrim play to their full potential there’s no reason why they shouldn’t give Tyrone a run for their money” He replied.
Win lose or draw Tony McAtamney hopes to be in Clones to cheer on Niall McKeever and the rest of the Antrim team and should his beloved county pull off what would be a shock victory in the other 31 counties in Ireland it would be some consolation at last for the disappointment in Clones 39 years ago.