THE joys of the post-match huddle. Reporters need to be careful around them. Many war cries are bellowed during those moments – unquotable stuff. The words uttered in the huddle must stay in the huddle.
It would be unfair to edge a sneaky tape-recorder in the direction of the circle.
Still, I’ve always been intrigued with these huddles and how managers, captains and leaders within groups conduct themselves in the immediate aftermath of victory or defeat.
After defending Antrim champions Cargin sealed their county final place at the expense of St Brigid’s in Dunsilly last Sunday, Ronan Devlin spoke to the circle for about 60 seconds.
That’s all the time he needed to make a few salient points to his players.
There was no reference to what had just unfolded against St Brigid’s in those defining few minutes in the second half – but the Cargin boss did mention to his players they will always have a point to prove and that they probably haven’t received the credit they deserve for winning the last five senior championships out of six.
That’s the heavily edited version at least.
The swiftness with which Devlin moved the focus away from their semi-final win, which was only minutes old, was as ruthless as it was impressive.
All eyes were firmly fixed on the challenge of Portglenone after their hugely impressive semi-final win over a quietly fancied Lamh Dhearg the previous day.
Devlin has done some job at Cargin.
He’s been involved in the last five championship wins out of six. He was Damian Cassidy’s trusted assistant for the club’s three-in-a-row feat (2018 to 2020) and was persuaded to assume the manager’s position once Cassidy returned to his native Bellaghy at the end of the 2021 campaign.
There are endless examples of where the number two steps up to the number one role and fails miserably.
They either struggle with the transition themselves or the players simply sense that the number two doesn’t have the skillset to be at the helm.
Devlin didn’t want to be the Cargin manager and needed a fair bit of persuading from some senior players to take on the role.
“It’s totally different [from coaching],” he said in 2022, his first year as manager.
“To be honest, I come from a coaching background, I spent 10 years in sports development coaching. I’m a PE teacher and it’s all on the pitch.
“As manager you’ve probably more autonomy over decisions. Damian definitely would’ve consulted me, but ultimately he was happy to die on his sword whatever his decision was. So that’s the thing, there is a bit of pressure making calls.”
Devlin made the right call in accepting the reins at the Erin’s Own club as he returned them to the podium in his first season in charge after Gerard McNulty’s Creggan Kickhams wrestled the silverware away from Cargin in 2021.
A year later, Cargin were celebrating back-to-back titles under Devlin – and they could be 60 minutes away from being three-in-a-row champions again.
“This crew of men are very much connected to where they’re from,” Devlin said before last Sunday’s semi-final with St Brigid’s.
“They nearly want to be the best that there’s ever been around home – and to prove that they want to keep winning and pushing on further every year.”
On the point of always having to prove themselves, Devlin might be onto something here as a lot of conversation in Antrim revolves around the so-called declining standards of football in the county.
You’ll hear the same refrain in nearly every other county in Ireland.
But to bemoan the standard of football is to cheapen the achievement.
It’s as if they’ve been winning handy championships year on year.
You also hear they’re an ageing team which further belittles their championship wins because, well, every other team is no good.
Begrudgery is part of the GAA’s DNA. Sometimes we’re all guilty of looking at success from the wrong angle.
Take the McCann brothers - Michael and Tomas. They’ve been leading lights in Antrim football for 15 years or more.
They’re now deep into their 30s – Mick is closer to 40 these days – and yet they were two of the best players on view in Dunsilly last Sunday.
Their fitness and conditioning levels can only be admired.
St Brigid’s are a fit, young team and will win a senior championship over the next few seasons – but Michael McCann met them stride for stride and delivered another masterclass in decision-making in tight moments of championship football.
Cargin have never done it in Ulster is another familiar refrain and another exercise in begrudgery – again, as if county titles are easily won – but the provincial stage is one Cargin now feel they are able for.
Undoubtedly, there were years they didn’t turn up in Ulster – notably Killyclogher in 2016 and Derrygonnelly in 2019.
After several failed attempts in Ulster, they took out Donegal champions Naomh Conaill in 2022 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Corrigan Park – no mean feat when you consider the weighty reputation of their opponents.
Last season’s controversial dismissal of Tomas McCann against eventual Ulster and All-Ireland champions Glen still hurts them though.
Cargin feel they weren’t given the opportunity to show what they could do in Ulster because of their numerical disadvantage that day at Celtic Park.
Of course, they have to earn the right to get back to Ulster against a final opponent that will want to make it count given the endless stream of semi-final heartache.
Maybe there was something in Cargin’s post-match huddle that suggests they have been under-appreciated champions.
But yet, they have taken all-comers on – Aghagallon, Lamh Dhearg, Creggan Kickhams and Dunloy and overcome serious setbacks in many of those final encounters.
But they always find a way to win. They are the best game managers of their era.
But this narrative always seems to get drowned out every time Cargin lift silverware above their heads.
You can’t beat the truth of a post-match huddle.