Elliott says it is probably his last chance to win an All-Ireland

Dunloy's Alistair Elliott doesn't tip-toe around the issue.

As far as he's concerned, Monday's AIB All-Ireland Club Final against holders Birr will be his and several other Cuchulainns veterans' last chance to achieve their Holy Grail.

Elliott, in candid mood at the team's pre-final press night, admits that he should already have an All-Ireland club medal in his collection.

Dunloy had Birr by the throat in the 1995 decider but stumbled in the second half to give the Whelehans and Co another chance which the Offaly men gratefully accepted in a one-sided replay.

"Everything seemed to happen the first day against Birr," recalls Elliotts with a rueful smile.

"It was a terrible day weather-wise but we had the chances to win.

"We turned at half-time four points up having played against the wind but things just seemed to fall away from us in the second half".

Elliott adds that the less said about the replay the better.

Gary O'Kane will captain Dunloy in the decider

Ally's gentle smile has been disarming hurling defences and journalists for more than a decade.

At times, critics have said that this hurling artist lacks the killer instinct.

But while he has had his off-days on big occasions, invariably when he is being written-off, Elliott will produce a big game to remind us of his brilliance.

Last month's semi-final victory over hot favourites Waterford champions Mount Sion was one such occasion.

It was fitting the Elliott hit the winning point late on because he had produced a wonderfully vigorous performance.

A display which made one wonder why Antrim manager Dinny Cahill treated the forward so shabbily last year.

O'Neill contribution

The softly-spoken Elliott is not a man given to tantrums which made his rather acrimonius departure from the county squad all the more baffling.

It wouldn't be Elliott's style to say that he is trying to prove a point this year to a certain Tipperary man.

Ally prefers to talk glowingly about the contribution of another Tipperary native Ger O'Neill who has injected renewed verve into the Dunloy squad this season.

O'Neill has encouraged the Dunloy team to play a quicker brand of hurling which suits Elliott's style of play in the attack.

On this press night, Elliott talks with quiet pride of the impact that hurling success has in the North Antrim hurling hamlet.

We have to win it this time Alistair Elliott

"Maybe the buzz went out of hurling for a while because it's been seven years since we last reached the All-Ireland Club Final.

"But the excitement is back now and it's great to see young boys and girls with hurley sticks instead of kicking a football around".

Elliott hopes those young children are playing in All-Ireland hurling and camogie finals in the years to come.

Victory on Monday is something almost scary to contemplate lest it puts the players off the strokes.

It would mean vindication for an entire community and the many struggles Dunloy folk have endured down through the years.

"Both at county and club level, we've knocked on the door in the past but we've got to go on and win one.