Janty McKeague holds back the tears at the end of Lamh Dhearg’s win over St Gall’s at Corrigan Park
By Kevin Herron
Lámh Dhearg stalwart Pat McCauge described the feeling of defeating St John’s in the 1971 decider as ‘first class’.
A former St John’s minor star, due to Lámh Dhearg not having a minor football team, McCauge; also known as ‘Shanty’ helped his boyhood club clinch the 1971 Antrim Senior Football Championship with a 1-13-1-12 win over the men from the Whiterock Road.
McCauge recalls that great day fondly and believes it was the way that any team wanted to win a championship final.
“We never did anything like it before” reflected McCauge.
“It was first class and the way we won it as well. We were winning by four points with time almost up and they [St John’s] got a penalty and scored it, we won by a point and that’s the way you wanted to beat St John’s, that’s the way I like beating them”.
McCauge recalls the decision to award the late penalty, which was little more than a late consolation goal for Andy McCallin and hopes the Lámhs will be in a similar position come the conclusion of play on Sunday afternoon.
“A fella lifted the ball off the ground and the referee [Phelim Green] gave St John’s a penalty” McCauge recalled.
“But he said time was up and the kick had to be taken. We didn’t worry after that because the match was over and we knew before the penalty was even hit that we were going up the hill with the cup. It didn’t make any difference to us whether they scored, hit it wide or what they done. It was a great position to be in and I hope we are in the same position on Sunday”.
McCauge was part of the Lámh Dhearg side that relinquished their crown the following year, after St John’s turned the tables and describes the contrast of emotions between winning and losing.
“It was disappointing to lose the final the year after to St John’s” admitted McCauge.
“But it’s great to get to finals. You don’t get there very often; we haven’t been there very often. The difference, as everybody knows getting beat and winning is day and night. Losing is terrible and winning is just brilliant”.
McCauge has urged the Lámhs not to take the big occasions for granted and hopes the red hands will use their head, be smart and calm under pressure on Sunday.
“You might never be back in the final again” warns McCauge.
“We have some great young players there and some what I would call ‘older hands’. The whole thirty of them might never be back again, you have to take it when it comes. All the advice you can give them is just use your head, be smart and be calm. That’s the way I see it anyway, you have to be very smart on the ball and off the ball. You can’t do anything stupid, there’s so many people watching – four umpires, two linesmen and a referee. You have to play the ball and play the game”.
Fermanagh native Gerry Regan featured at right-back on the successful 1971 team with McCauge and another Fermanagh native Ciaran Flaherty is likely to line out for Lámh Dhearg on Sunday. Although McCauge is not superstitious to this link and believes that superstition doesnt come into play in championship football.
“Gerry Regan from Fermanagh was our right-back in 1971” McCauge recalled.
“Ciaran Flaherty seems to be the real business by the look of things, I don’t believe in superstitions, superstitions doesn’t come into championship as far as I’m concerned”.