Latharna Óg
2008 was a memorable year for the club, both on and off the pitch, with the highlight unquestionably being Sunday, July 27.
Latharna Og chairman Paul McCaughan (left), with founder members of the
club, John Brown, Alex McGarry and Dominic Magill at the official opening of
the new club premises
After two and a half seasons of play, the club's pitch on the Brustin Brae Road, just outside the town, was officially opened by Dr John McSparran. The club had used the time between the first game played at the venue and the official opening productively; new changing rooms were also officially opened by the county chairman.
The occasion coincided with the final of the North Antrim Junior Championship, for the McCaughan Cup, named after one of the club's founder members Jimmy McCaughan. The club's senior team rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion, beating Creggan 6-10 to 4-9 to secure Larne's first senior silverware, since the Junior Féis Shield in 1989; their first North Antrim Championship win since 1981.
After the disappointment of losing the 2007 final, to Cloughmills, Michael Lismore led the entire team with a personal 4-4. Latharna Óg, under the management of James McKillop and David Matthews, were fully deserving of the win and the joyous scenes that accompanied captain Paul Wilson lifting the cup after the final whistle.
Larne Senior Team
Away from the McCaughan Cup success, senior league form was indifferent, although the club did return to North Antrim League competition for the first time in a number of years. The best displays were reserved for knockout competitions. The seniors were a puck of a ball away from making the double in North Antrim final appearances, when they lost 4-10 to 4-9 to St Enda's, in the semi-final of the Junior Féis Shield; the Glengormley side securing victory in a thrilling game, with a 65 that proved to be the last puck of the game.
Larne had put in one of their best performances of the year in the previous round when they beat Glenarm, 7-7 to 2-2, in the seniors' first game at their old home Feystown, since moving to the current pitch in 2006. In a foretaste of the McCaughan Cup final, Michael Lismore scored 4-4.
In the All-County Championship, the seniors were still feeling the effects of their McCaughan Cup win five days earlier - and had a number of key absentees - as they beat St Brigid's, 2-10 to 1-7, before losing in the quarter-final to Ballymena.
In underage competition, the club fielded teams at every level, with the U12s - who played their part in the festivities of the pitch opening by playing Glenshesk in a Championship match - performing impressively in the League. The U14s best displays came in the Ulster Féile in Tyrone, where they reached the final of their section. The squad of Conor Bell, Conor Matthews, Cormac Glenn, Ryan McKillop, Cathal McKillop, Peter Cameron, Jamie Murphy, Corey Beggs, Jamie McAllister, Ben Murphy, Paul Robinson and Paul McKillop,made it through their section that included Lisbellaw (Fermanagh), Naomh Eoin (Tyrone) and fellow Antrim side Ardoyne, but fell to the Fermanagh side, 3-4 to 1-0 in the final.
Michael Lismore, who was a member of the Ulster Championship winning Antrim U16 squad last year, again represented the club on the county stage; this time as part of the minor panel
Michael certainly starred for the senior this year and he was joined by a large contingent from the minor team. With a large proportion of the senior team yet to hit their 20s, the future now looks bright for Latharna Óg. However whatever is to come next season or beyond it will have to go some way to beat the events of Sunday July 27 2008.