In the build up to Sunday’s Senior Football Champion ship final between reigning champions, Erin’s Own Cargin and Casement’s Portglenone, Paddy McIlwaine from the Saffron Gael speaks to Portgenone stalwart, Dermot McAleese.

Dermot has been an outstanding performer for both Portglenone and Antrim for many years and his experience and knowhow will be important if the Casement’s are to overcome the challenge of favourites Cargin on Sunday.

Paddy: As you head into Sunday’s final against Cargin what are your thoughts on the game?

Dermot: We are really looking forward to Sundays game, as we know all too well getting to a county final is a difficult task, so we want to make the most of the opportunity we have. Cargin are really difficult opponents, so if we are to give ourselves a chance on Sunday we will need to be on top of our game. It’s a really exciting time for everyone involved in the club, and seeing the support we have had from everyone in the community over the past two weeks has given us a real boost going into the final.

Paddy: Portglenone’s win over Lamh Dhearg in the semi-final was one of Casement’s best championship performances for some time. How relieved were you to get the monkey of five semi-final defeats off your back?

Dermot: It was nice to be able to put a performance together and match that up with getting the result as well. We had played some good football in the previous semi-finals but ultimately never got the result, which is the most important thing. There definitely was a feeling of relief after the final whistle against Lamh Dhearg, there were a lot of very disappointing days and nights after those semi-final defeats, but credit to our fellas they kept turning up year after year and got rewarded for that perseverance. At the same time we are well aware that nothing has been won, and that getting over that semi-final barrier will mean very little unless we can go a step further on Sunday.

Paddy: It’s been quite a while since Portglenone last contested a Senior County final. I was at that game at Casement Park against the great St. Gall’s side who won 14 titles between 2001 and 2015.

Dermot: Casements were beaten by St Galls in 2005/2007/2009.

Paddy: You were too young to have figured then but Portglenone had some excellent players at that time with Tony Convery, Owen Doherty Scotchie O’Hagan, John McKeever and Kevin Madden just some of the names I recall.

What are your recollections of that game?

Dermot: I can remember the game was under lights in Casement Park. Casements had a very good team around that time with the lads you have mentioned and a few more, but unfortunately St Galls just seemed to be at another level and the scoreline wasn’t pretty viewing for anyone from Portglenone. That group of players were the first in the clubs history to reach a Senior Final so even though they never got over the line, it was still a massive step forward for the club.

Paddy: Back in 2011 you lost an Intermediate final against All Saints, a game where you had a goal disallowed that was probably the turning point in that final.

Casement’s lost again to St. Teresa’s when you were firm favourites before claiming the title against Moneyglass in (2014) and you have been playing Senior ever since.

Casement’s will start Sunday’s final as underdogs and rightly so, given Cargin’s recent record in the championship. Give me your thoughts on Cargin?

Dermot: Cargin have obviously been the team to beat in the county over the last 10 years. Their record speaks for itself, and so they deserve a lot of respect. They have serious quality all over the pitch and we know that we’ll have plenty to think about come Sunday.

Paddy: How have your preparations been going and what has the build-up been like since last week?

Dermot: We’ve had a good two weeks preparation for Sunday, there’s a really good buzz about the town at the minute and as players we are feeding off that too. The weather wouldn’t be powerful at the minute, but when you’ve that nugget of a county final to look forward to its not hard to get yourself up for training. The whole squad is really looking forward to the game.