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, or throwing out a ‘They’re doing great work up there,’ line so beloved of some hurling pundits when it comes to the Saffrons and the other sides outside the fold.
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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.
Subsequent hurling missionaries headed north to the city and the Glens — Dinny Cahill, Kevin Ryan, Jerry Wallace, Liam Sheedy and current Antrim boss Darren Gleeson.
All hurling fanatics. You’d want to be.
All traveling the road less taken after the Good Friday Agreement.
But not so many went before it. McCarthy 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.
McCarthy was left lying in hospital wondering whether he would ever play again.
He managed to attend the 1969 All-Ireland 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 hurling diehards.
McCarthy came on the recommendation of Father Bertie Troy.
He stayed with Smyth on Belfast’s Glen Road, before heading up to stay with Eddie McCormack — a teacher in St. MacNissis Garron Tower — in the Glens of Antrim.
“It was one of the highlights of my hurling career, to get to go up there,” said McCarthy.
“I wasn’t as mobile from the accident at the time.
“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.’”
McCarthy is a stickler for the shape and weight of his hurleys.
So he wasn’t too impressed when two nice ones, made by Ramie Dowling specifically for him, and which “would not be easily replaced,” were thrown out of the boot of the car and onto the road by the British army.
It was the first time McCarthy had crossed the border. Welcome to alternative Ireland.
“You had a Cork fella coming up with two northern guys and the army gave us a bit of hassle at the border,” he recalls.
“Other mornings they gave us a hard time of it too. One other night we were up in Casement Park and someone came and said, ‘Come on, quick, get out.’ We ran across some waste ground into some other place.”
They avoided the army raid.
“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.”
McCarthy had a choice of a hotel or house for his stays, and was shown the sights of the North Antrim coast.
With his help on the training and on match day, Antrim defeated Galway, Dublin and Warwickshire to win the 1970 Intermediate All-Ireland.
“At half-time in the final, Neilly (Niall) Patterson said to me, ‘Justin, we are in trouble.’
“I said, ‘Neilly, we are not in trouble at all — there are 30 minutes to go.’
“I jumped up and grabbed a fella’s hurley. At that time, at Croke Park, you got tea at half-time.
“I scattered a few cups and saucers and a jug of milk and the lads got an awful shock.
“They jumped up. I said we are not going back to the Glens or Belfast tonight without that cup and by God they responded in the second half.
“They went out, there was fire in their bellies and they took off.”
Over half a century on, the names still roll off his tongue.
“Some great lads,” he says. “Johnny Coyles in goal, Kevin Donnelly full-back, Aidan McCamphill half-back, Seanie Burns, Seanie Collins, Eddie Donnelly, Paddy McShane —Brendan McGarry was an outstanding player.
“They had Aidan Hamill and Andy McCallin on the wings —they had won the All-Ireland uUnder-21 football the year before.
“They could run like hares, carry the ball in.
“It was a great boost, the first time they won a hurling title.
“I often said the key in Antrim was a mixture of city and country fellas. The city fellas would be cuter but the country fellas would be more durable.”
McCarthy was taken to Ballycastle’s famous annual event, ‘the Ould Lammas Fair.’
“Getting ‘Yellow Man’ and dulse — I loved that kind of
history, and there was some affinity I had with Antrim anywhow,” he continues.
“Even if I am driving along in the car, sometimes I will play ‘the Green Glens of Antrim’ and it brings back memories for me.
“I brought Waterford up there twice. I brought Limerick up there. I was up there with Dunloy and Loughgiel a few times.
“I love the hurling people of Belfast and the Glens, the culture and keeping the game going.”
McCarthy went in with Antrim again in 2015. Loughgiel man PJ O’Mullan was at the helm.
“I could see it again,” he says. “There was something there — all the time. Just to be given a chance. I hope I gave them a boost that time as well. It was great to be up again.
“It’s just, it’s so far away. I stayed in a house in the Glens a few times over the years. It suited me. I was into photography as well.
“You get some good photographs up there — White Park Bay, Cushendun — some lovely shots. I put a book together recently.
“I have a great gra for the place and people.
“They took me to heart and I took them. There was a great response.”
In the wake of the 1970 All-Ireland intermediate triumph, McCarthy was actually approached about a full time coaching role in the county, but his life was at the other end of the country.
“If I was single at the time and hadn’t a family, it would have been ideal,” he says. “I would have loved it. “Up in the Glens would be heaven out for me — Ballycastle, Cushendall, the rope bridge (Carrick-a-Rede), Ballintoy and those places.
“We went around there with the Waterford and Limerick teams and got a great reception. Not every fella would get a chance to be there (Antrim), or want it or do it, but I am that kind of person.
“I’d often say to people why don’t you go up around Antrim, but they would say, ‘Ah no, I wouldn’t chance it.’ It’s like home from home, the hospitality is second to none. They are not short of interest and want to know more about the game.
“A bigger push is required to make sure it’s not going to fall back. It’s just to give it a boost.”
This afternoon’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final encounter with Cork at Corrigan Park is exactly that kind of boost.
It’s the first time since the 2008 qualifier encounter with Galway at Casement Park that big time, knock out Championship hurling, featuring one of the top sides in the country, has come to Antrim.
It was Joe Canning’s senior Championship debut and he hit 2-6.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge in the intervening 14 years for Canning, Casement Park and Antrim hurling.
“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 a bit from the last day against Kerry.
“Seeing the red jersey and the saffron jersey running out onto Corrigan Park, it will be a great spectacle.”
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