Dunloy and Cushendall do battle on Sunday to decide where the Volunteer Cup spends the winter. Michael McMullan looks back on some of the memorable finals…

2023 Cushendall 1-20 Loughgiel 1-19

CUSHENDALL breathed a sigh of relief when James McNaughton pulled a late chance wide after hitting 1-10 in the decider.

Fergus McCambridge’s goal was the difference in the first-half with Paddy Burke hitting 0-4 from play in a starring role but they needed to hold off a late Shamrocks’ comeback.

They needed a late show to beat Portaferry before a comfortable win over Sleacht Néill in the final. After having a hold of the All-Ireland semi-final, they fell short by a point at the hands of O’Loughlin Gaels.

2019 Dunloy 3-16 Cushendall 2-15

TWO late Seaan Elliott goals swung a keenly contested decider as Dunloy landed their 13th title.

Fergus McCambridge and Nigel Elliott hit first-half goals with Dunloy 1-9 to 1-8 ahead at the break.

With 10 minutes to go, the sides were level – 1-14 each – before Elliott struck two decisive goals.

It was a merging of a group of young Dunloy players but they were beaten in the Ulster final by Sleacht Néill who were in their pomp.

2015 Cushendall 2-16 Ballycastle 1-15

CUSHENDALL came from nine points down to lift the title against Ballycastle in Dunloy.

Ballycastle had five points on the board before Neil McManus scores from the ‘Dall and a goal from Sean McCaughan had them 1-11 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.

Goals from Natty McNaughton and Eoghan Campbell but the net before a Christy McNaughton point gave them the lead for the first time on the way to victory.

It took extra-time to see off Sleacht Néill in the Ulster final.

2010 Loughgiel 1-9 Cushendall 0-11

A GOAL from Eddie McCloskey was the difference as Loughgiel won a first title since 1989.

It was a pressure final for the Shamrocks who made their name for the wrong reasons, having lost six finals in a row – 2003 to 2008.

McCloskey netted the only goal in the first half but they had to survive a late ‘Dall comeback to win an emotional title.

Loughgiel were winners over Keady but came up short at All-Ireland level with their second national title coming in 2012

2007 Dunloy 1-16 Loughgiel 0-16

A GOAL from Alistair Elliott midway through the semi-final was the difference as Dunloy got back to the top table in Antrim.

After losing the chance for a fifth successive title in a row in 2004, Dunloy were back at the top.

The Shamrocks led 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time with Liam Watson having hit all of their scores.

Four unanswered points moved Dunloy 0-12 to 0-9 ahead before Elliott’s goal put them six clear.

Loughgiel battled back but current Dunloy manager Gregory O’Kane’s 0-8 hauled helped seal victory,

2004 Rossa 1-15 Loughgiel 2-4

A HUNGRY Rossa side strode imperiously to a first title since 1998 with a sharper performance,

They took their lead from midfield duo Jim Connolly and Joe Frank Boyle with eight players getting on the scoring act. Rossa led 0-8 to 1-2 at half-time but Chris McDonnell – who scored 1-3 – Mickey McCullough continued to lead the attack.

Liam Watson bagged a second Shamrocks’ goal, with the last puck, but there was no stopping Rossa who went on to beat Ballygalget in the Ulster final.

1990 Dunloy 2-10 Rossa 1-10

FOR all the success Dunloy had down the years, their hurling story had to begin somewhere. After making progress at underage level, they reached the final in 1990. It was a point from the late Tony McGrath that earned a second bite of the cherry in a thee drawn final. With a tally of 2-2, Allistar Elliott was the star of the replay to shoot Dunloy to victory. After winning Ulster, Glenmore beat Dunloy in their first All-Ireland game.

1981 Cushendall 3-8 Ballycastle 0-16

THE late Danny McNaughton inspired Cushendall to their first ever Antrim hurling title.

It took a replay for the ‘Dall to make their mark in history and McNaughton was the star man on both days.

They went on to beat Dungiven and Portaferry to land a first Ulster Championship but it was Waterford’s Mount Sion who ended their All-Ireland hopes.