LOUGHGIEL understand heartbreak as well as any club side in Ulster.
Their well-documented success of recent times, which culminated in 2012’s
All-Ireland win, followed years of near misses in Antrim finals. Six to be precise, from 2003 to 2008.
That’s why Shamrocks manager Johnny Campbell can empathise with Sunday’s Ulster Club SHC final opponents Slaughtneil, who have gone agonisingly close to claiming a first senior provincial club title for Derry over the last three years.
In 2013, Loughgiel won a fourth successive Ulster title at Slaughtneil’s expense.
A year later, the Derry champions took Cushendall to a replay in the provincial semi-final.
In last year’s Ulster final, Slaughtneil once again found the Antrim champions too good after Cushendall edged a one-point win in extra-time following a remarkable decider in the Athletic Grounds.
The Emmet’s return to the Cathedral city 12 months on this weekend with the memory of that 1-24 to 3-17 defeat fresh in their minds and Loughgiel are bracing themselves for another epic showdown.
“They [Slaughtneil] have some massive hurlers,” said Campbell.
“They have a great work-rate and they are dogged and all the rest but they also have some of the best hurlers in Ulster.
“For me, last year’s Ulster final was the best that I can remember.
“They were unlucky not to come out on the right side of it but that experience will stand to them.
“I have no doubt that they will be coming into Sunday’s game full of confidence. It should be another rip-roaring game.”
Campbell joined the thousands of spectators in Armagh last year as Cushendall and Slaughtneil fought tooth and nail to win the Four Seasons Cup.
On Sunday, he will be on the sideline attempting to guide Loughgiel to a ninth Ulster crown.
The former All-Ireland-winning captain credits his squad with great resolve for what has been a memorable first year in charge, during which Loughgiel have already secured the Antrim league and championship double.
“My first year in... if somebody had said to me this time last year I’d be managing a team in the Ulster final, I’d have done some laughing at them,” said Campbell.
“The boys have been working hard all year and it makes our job that bit easier.
“It is a different set of circumstances and a different set of headaches.
“The fellas have been patient with me and I have to thank them for that.
“I know most of them inside out and they have all worked hard. That’s all we can ask for as a management team.”
Some were quick to write Loughgiel’s hurling obituary when they suffered successive losses to Cushendall in the 2014 and 2015 Antrim championships.
However, the Shamrocks reclaimed the Volunteer Cup this season, beating St Gall’s, Ballycastle and the Ruairí Óg’s along the way.
Down champions Ballygalget were comprehensively dismissed, 1-25 to 0-9, in the Ulster semi-final and Loughgiel are odds-on to deny Slaughtneil once again on Sunday.
Campbell, who will have a full squad to choose from on Sunday, is determined to see a winning mentality prevail during his tenure at the north Antrim club.
“We had a great run to achieve what we achieved but you don’t become a bad team overnight,” added the Shamrocks boss.
“Even in those two years [2014 and 2015], we still had the bulk of the same team. It is very hard to keep that level up for five or six years.
“I was always confident in the players that Loughgiel have. Hopefully, the ambitions of the players will seep through to the younger players coming through and, hopefully, we will always be there or thereabouts in terms of winning the county championship.
“We don’t want to slip back into the chasing pack but I see enough ambition in the guys who are there so I don’t see that happening any time soon.”
