Campbell – Bring on Portaferry

Loughgiel’s Johnny Campbell

LOUGHGIEL’S 30-year-old captain Johnny Campbell is preparing to win a third Ulster title on the trot this weekend.

Understandably, he’s looking forward to the chance to do so. The last team to win the treble was Dunloy, who are also the only club to ever have achieve that feat.

However, for Campbell, and Loughgiel, it has been a long struggle to get to the point where they could equal that record.

The club has suffered its hardships, losing six titles in a row was a dark period for the Shamrocks and one that Campbell does not care to remember.

During that time, the Loughgiel man had to overcome challenges of his own, both mental and physical, in order to reach this point in his career.

Ronan Scott: You are playing Portaferry on Sunday, how are you feeling about the game?
Johnny Campbell: It’s going to be a tough enough game. We played them in the league there a few weeks ago. Both teams didn’t really show their hands. There wasn’t much between us. Both teams know each other fairly well having played each other in the league. We know a lot of their strengths and weaknesses and they would know a lot about us. We are looking forward to it, and there is no getting away from the fact that we would love another crack at the All-Ireland series, and defend the title. But you can’t do that unless you win next Sunday.

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday October 25. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent, or you can purchase the online version – for only 90p – by clicking here