Family bonds strong as Dunloy eye All-Ireland glory

In 1997, Shane Elliott made three-point blank saves to help Dunloy Cuchullains beat O'Donovan Rossa and clinch the Antrim senior hurling title.

Elliott made the saves at a period when it seemed like Rossa were on their way to a famous win.

The display earned him player of the match recognition, even though team-mate Ally Elliott had put on a virtuoso display and full-forward Gregory O'Kane chalked up an impressive 1-09.

On Sunday, O’Kane will manage the side at Croke Park while Elliott’s son, Ryan, takes the number one shirt as Dunloy face Ballyhale Shamrocks in the 2022-23 AIB All-Ireland SHC club final.

Ryan is playing because of a love of the game handed down to him by his dad. And Shane got that same love from his father, Seamus, who coached Dunloy to a famous county title win in 1990.

Ryan’s cousins, Nigel and Seaan, are both members of the Dunloy’s final squad too.

Family bonds as strong as steel.

"It’s what the club is all about," says Shane Elliott. "You see it all over Ireland where family connections drive it on.

"My interest came from my father who, along with a number of others, started a type of development strategy to focus on youth. Those men put together a strategy to focus on underage and bring it all through to senior. That’s how the 1990 success happened and that’s where my love of the game comes from.

"My son’s love for the game comes from there too. I played, my father played, my son plays and down the line I’ll be hoping that his son plays. And above all we are all hoping that on the 22nd we get our just rewards."

Cuchullains played in the All-Ireland club senior hurling finals in 1995, 1996, 2003 and 2004.

Their best chance came in '95 when they drew with Birr before losing the replay. They lost the other