Saffron joy as Dunloy are back in an All-Ireland final

For the first time since 2003, Dunloy Cúchullains have reached the All-Ireland club hurling final after an impressive victory over St Thomas' of Galway at Croke Park.

Manager Gregory O’Kane played that day, almost 19 seasons ago, and he was on hand to guide his gutsy troops over the line.

Conal Cunning dusted himself down to put a first half penalty miss behind him to lead his side to their fifth ever final. Keelan Molloy’s 45th-minute wonder goal was enough for the Antrim men to withstand anything the Galway men threw at them.

The loss of Darragh Burke to a knee injury during the warm up seemed to unsettle St Thomas' greatly. In sharp contrast the Ulster champions shot out of the blocks thanks to provincial final goal scorer Nigel Elliott and a classy Cunning score.

In the reshuffle, Bernard Farrell started on the edge of square and the Galway side used the target man sparingly to mixed effect. Conor Cooney and Damien McGlynn’s mazy run soon had his teammates up and running.

The sides would be level four times in a dogged first half showing. Both outfits struggling to find the range, totalling fifteen wides between them. Dunloy guilty of nine and a missed penalty. After Mark Caulfield put St Thomas’ 0-05 to 0-03 in front, Seaan Elliott worked a marvellous goal chance with Decky Smith.

Elliott was bound for a certain goal in front of the Canal end but was hauled down by Cooney for the pivotal penalty. St. Thomas’ goalkeeper Gerald Kelly dived to right to save magnificently from Cunning. A glorious opportunity for Dunloy to get back into the semi final but one that motivated Cunning after the break.

Cunning and Molloy dug deep to respond straightaway to Cooney again to make 0-06 a piece at half time. Despite all the waste,