With 44 minutes played in last month’s All-Ireland Club semi-final, the game was finely poised.
Dunloy held a narrow 0-9 to 0-7 lead over St Thomas’ with both teams missing a host of scoring chances. Something had to give.
A goal was always going to be a big score, but Keelan Molloy’s major was a thing of beauty as he finished off a remarkable 80-metre solo run with a delightful shot past Gerald Kelly.
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Nigel Elliott deserves immense credit for a wonderful catch and assist for the goal - something that was jokingly predicted on the bus to Croke Park.
“I think I said it to him (Molloy) before the county final and the same thing before the Ulster final,” stated Elliott.
“I never catch a ball! I said ‘Sure I’ll catch one and lay it off to you’ and no better time to catch one and lay it off to Keelan - it was in the All-Ireland semi-final.
“No better man to hand it to either. He took off like a greyhound - I don’t think you’d catch him on a motorbike!”
After the prophecy came true in the semi-final, Elliott will be seeking out Molloy for another chat before throw-in on Sunday.
Apart from a tendency to put his boots on right foot before left, Elliott insists he hasn’t many superstitions or pre-match routines, but he isn’t going to tempt fate.
“If I could predict that (goal) again. . . maybe this time I’ll say I’ll catch two and he’ll score two? One just wasn’t enough.”
Molloy isn’t the only speed merchant on the team and Dunloy will be hoping to make good use of their blistering pace in Croke Park against Ballyhale on Sunday.
Speaking at Dunloy’s press night ahead of the All-Ireland Club SHC Final, Elliott was asked which player wins the sprints at training?
“I’d better not say because some of the boys might fall out and stuff. I’d say there are a few photo-finishes. . . I’d say I’d be at the top,” Elliott claimed.
“The young boys don’t like being beaten in the sprints. It is probably one of our strengths. It isn’t just one or two forwards, it is all six.
“Then you've got boys coming through the middle. It is an advantage we have in our team, we are so sharp and fast. If you don’t have the skill you might as well not be as quick.
“We’d probably say Croke Park benefits our style, especially when you are playing winter hurling.
“There’s not any other county venue that’s going to be as good as Croke Park.
“It isn’t just going to benefit us, it will benefit Ballyhale too - you’re playing on the best field in Ireland.”
Elliott missed two full seasons after going to Australia and returned ahead of the 2022 campaign and it turned out to be a memorable one.
Dunloy won their fourth successive Antrim title before going on to defeat Slaughtneil in the Ulster final at the Athletic Grounds in early December.
A fortnight later, they turned over St Thomas’ in Croke Park to set up an All-Ireland final clash with Ballyhale, last season’s beaten finalists.
As was the case prior to their meeting with St Thomas’, Gregory O’Kane’s men are big outsiders and that suits Dunloy just fine says Elliott.
“Ballyhale are probably the best club team that’s been about,” added Elliott.
“We are obviously going to be underdogs again against Ballyhale. In a way that’s good because there’s no pressure on us and we can play with freedom and express ourselves in Croke Park. That’s the best way to do it and have no regrets after the game.
“Anything now is a complete bonus for us. These opportunities don’t come around too often so you have to embrace the moment.
“Dunloy are a great club with great players and so are Ballyhale, but the pressure is on them. I hate talking about betting and bookies but, if you look at the odds, they are heavy odds-on favourites.
“It took a last-minute TJ Reid strike for Ballyhale to beat St Thomas’ last year. We are down to the last two and anything could happen. Ballyhale could have a bad day and Dunloy could play out of their skin and everything just clicks.
“We’ll just continue to play as we have done all year - play with freedom and express ourselves in Croke Park. It is the biggest day of the year for us.”
Read next:
Dunloy vs Ballyhale: Gregory O’Kane offers injury update ahead of All-Ireland decider
- Glen vs Kilmacud: Connor Carville hoping for an Ulster All-Ireland double
- Dunloy vs Ballyhale: History won’t hinder All-Ireland bid says Cuchullain’s ’keeper Ryan Elliott
- Allianz Football League fixtures: A complete guide to the 2023 season
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