CARGIN boss Ronan Devlin feels the entire squad is still driven by the perceived injustices of last season’s Ulster Club exit to eventual champions Watty Grahams Glen as the Erin’s Own men prepare for Sunday’s county semi-final showdown with St Brigid’s.
The Antrim champions have breezed into the last four with the minimum of fuss but can expect a significant step up in class when they take on league champions St Brigid’s in Dunsilly (4pm) – a repeat of last year’s semi-final.
After negotiating a way past the ever-improving south Belfast club, Cargin claimed their fifth county championship title in six years by beating gate-crashers Dunloy in the final.
But the hurt of their provincial loss to Glen still lingers with Devlin and the Cargin players.
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Key attacker Tomas McCann was controversially sent off for a tackle on Glen’s Conleith McGuckian before half-time which left Cargin with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Glen went on to claim provincial and All-Ireland honours.
While Cargin have to earn the right to compete in the Ulster series again, it was a devastating way to end the 2024 campaign.
Asked where last year’s Glen defeat ranks in his coaching career, Devlin said: “I would say it was the toughest – I never claimed that we would have gone any further – but we were denied the opportunity maybe to see if we could have.
“It just felt like the game was taken out of your hands. In a way I think that’s why a lot of boys decided to knuckle down and go again.
“It didn’t feel it was the end [of the season], it just felt we were taking a break and we’re ready to go again. But leaving Celtic Park that day, I’ve never experienced a worse feeling.”
Devlin assisted former boss Damian Cassidy where they claimed three-in-a-row (2018-2020) before Creggan Kickhams wrestled the title off their neighbours in 2021 in Cassidy’s final season in charge.
Devlin was persuaded to take the managerial reins and has delivered back-to-back titles and hopes to be celebrating his sixth championship in 2024 since the Ballinderry man became involved with the Antrim club.
St Brigid’s came closest to knocking the champions off their pedestal last season. Holding a 0-6 to 0-3 advantage in dreadful conditions, it looked as though a shock was on the cards – until the semi-final shifted in the champions’ favour.
James Laverty converted a brilliant score before Tomas McCann dispossessed Ronan Boyle and in a flash St Brigid’s lead was gone when Conhuir Johnston found the net.
Twelve months on, St Brigid’s are back in Dunsilly, facing into the ultimate stress test – and bring good form into Sunday’s semi-final.
They came through the group stages unbeaten – against St Gall’s, Creggan Kickhams and Aghagallon – and rode out a second-half storm to see off Dunloy in their quarter-final.
Patrick and Joseph Finnegan, Shea Downey, James Smith and Enda Downey have been in brilliant form for the Belfast men.
St Brigid’s also claimed a league final win over a weakened Cargin side – but Sunday’s proposition will be an entirely different affair.
“To be honest, I can’t get too caught up in what way St Brigid’s are going to approach this,” Devlin said.
“I don’t really care because we’ll look after our own house. That sounds like a textbook answer but it’s not, it’s the truth.
“Our 15 for this game will probably be different, our style of play might be slightly different too, and all we want is everyone knowing their job and their role within the team.
“The players are absolutely motivated to go and win this. I can tell in my own gut going into these games. You get that nice feeling, that championship feeling.”
Mark Kelly (cruciate) and Cahir Donnelly (knee) are on the long-term injury list – but Devlin is content with the options he has ahead of Sunday’s semi-final.
They too are unbeaten in this year’s championship and didn’t let up against Ahoghill in a painfully one-sided quarter-final.
Mick McCann, Gerard McCann, Tomas McCann, James Laverty, Kevin O’Boyle and Justin Crozier continue to winter well for the champions.
“We have a lovely blend of youth and experience,” said Devlin, who is also involved in coaching the Convent’s MacRory Cup team with Kevin Brady.
“There’s a couple of young lads who have offered a real burst of pace and energy; some others came in a couple of years ago and have really pushed it on and then you’ve got, what I call them, the old generals who are stamping their authority and are good as they ever were.”
Devlin has been around Cargin for six years now and doesn’t sense any slippage in the players’ ambition to keep winning titles.
“First of all, competition for places keeps everything healthy,” said the manager.
“There are a few players who have come in and really kicked on and that means some boys can’t really rest.
“We don’t look to keep other teams down; what we’re looking at are players who have won championships – and I think they want to elevate their own status within their own community.
“This crew of men are very much connected to where they’re from. 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.”