MCCARTHY JUST WHAT WE NEEDED

Deise hero recalls his time in the Glens

KARL O’KANE

SOME talk about it. Others just go and do it.

Justin Mccarthy is one of those who went and did it.

He did it and lived it, on and off for almost half a century of his life.

No-one can accuse Mccarthy of paying lip service to Antrim hurling.

In his autobiography, ‘Hooked,’ released 20 years ago, the chapter on Antrim hurling is entitled ‘The Road Less Taken.’

It is an apt name for Mccarthy’s journey- he was one of the pioneers.

At the time Mccarthy was first approached by Antrim, the Cork hurling star was recovering from a motorcycle accident, which happened the week of the 1969 All-ireland final.

The accident left his leg shattered, broken in three places. He managed to attend the final defeat by Kilkenny - in a wheelchair.

A few months later the future Cork, Clare, Limerick and Waterford manager was asked up North by Niall Patterson - the father of 1989 All-ireland final goalie Niall - and Frank Smyth - two Antrim diehards.

“It was one of the highlights of my hurling career, to get to go up there,” Mccarthy said.

“I wasn’t as mobile from the accident at the time but I am a very determined person. When you put your mind to something, you do it. If you’re talking about the journey, you won’t do it.

“I know fellas locally here and they’d go 10 miles down the road and they’d be thinking about it all day.

“The Troubles were rife at the time. I was young and airy. I said, ‘Here, let’s go.’”

“Looking back on it, fellas said I was mad to do it, but I felt there was a calling there and it would be in my nature to help people out and try and improve things.”

With his help on the training and on match day, Antrim defeated Galway, Dublin and Warwickshire to win the 1970 Intermediate All-ireland.

Over half a century on, the names still roll off his tongue.

“I love the hurling people of Belfast and the Glens, the culture and keeping the game going.”

Today’s All-ireland preliminary quarter-final encounter with Cork at Corrigan Park is the first time since the 2008 qualifier encounter with Galway at Casement Park (inset) that big time, Championship hurling, featuring one of the top sides in the country, has come to Antrim.

“I hope Antrim don’t respect Cork too much today and say Cork are up there,” says Mccarthy.

“I’d like to see them putting on a good show and I think they will. Their forwards are lively and can score. The backs would want to tighten up a bit.

“Seeing the red jersey and the saffron jersey running out onto Corrigan Park, it will be a great spectacle.”