Above – Errigal Ciaran’s manager Enda McGinley (left) will be in opposition with his three brother in laws, Michael, Paul and Tomas McCann in Sunday’s Ulster Club Championship quarter final at Corrigan Park

Ulster SFC club quarter-final –

1-00pm Sunday Corrigan Park

Erin’s own Cargin v Errigan Ciaran (Tyrone)

There are likely to be divided loyalties in the opposing camps when Erin’s Own Cargin take on the considerable challenge posed by Tyrone Champions, Errigal Ciaran at Corrigan Park this Sunday.

Errigal Ciaran, managed by former Antrim manger, Enda McGinley retained the Tyrone championship last Monday night with a win over Trillick in a replay but had no time to celebrate before they were back in action.

They returned to Omagh for an Ulster preliminary round win over St. Eunan’s Letterkenny and on Sunday they travel to Corrigan Park where the Toome side are their opponents in a mouth-watering quarter final.

McGinley had a successful run in charge of the Saffrons and led them to promotion from division 4 in his first season in charge and the Antrim team at the time contained quite a number of Cargin players including Michael and Tomas McCann.

The former All Ireland winner with Tyrone is married to the McCann’s sister, Geraldine and faced the McCann’s in the 2009 Ulster final and will cross swords with Michael, Tomas and their brother Paul this Sunday with family loyalties divided, at least until after 2-15 on Sunday.

Cargin have been the outstanding side in Antrim over the past decade but have found Ulster a tough nut to crack despite some strong performances that have included defeats in the last two years to Watty Graham’s, Maghera who went on to claim the All Ireland title last year.

There wasn’t too much between the sides in those two games however with Cargin beaten narrowly in 2022 and then losing again to the Derry champions last year at Celtic Park.

The harsh dismissal of Tomas McCann in the first half of that game certainly didn’t help the Antrim champions cause and there was a strong feeling that Cargin would have overturned that 2022 defeat if he had remained on board.

Sunday’s opponents Errigal Ciaran look just as formidable after Cargin completed a three in a row by defeating neighbours Portglenone in the Antrim final and they will cherish the opportunity to take on Errigal and the ‘brother in law’ on Sunday.

Former trainer Ronan Devlin took over the managerial reigns from Damien Cassidy a couple of years ago and brought in Fabian Muldoon from his own club Ballinderry and there is a feeling within Antrim that this could be their year.

John McNabb remains one of the best keepers around and his ability from frees and his outfield excursions have been a feature of the Cargin play with the Erin’s Own net minder weighing in with vital scores throughout the season.

References have been made about an ageing Cargin team in some quarters but this is very much a myth and while the Toome side still depend heavily on the likes of the McCann’s, Kevin O’Boyle and James Laverty there have been an exciting bunch of young players who have come through to complement that experience in recent years.

Ronan Gribbin, Sean Og O’Neill, Benen Kelly, Tom Shivers and Conor Johnston are amongst the new breed while Pat Shivers, Jimmy Gribbin and Conan Johnston are others who will have plenty to offer on Sunday.

Errigal Ciaran certainly didn’t get it all their own way against either Trillick or St. Eunan’s and are unlikely to get anything easy out of the Antrim champions.

They have relied heavily on the Canavan brothers throughout this campaign but have plenty of others who can be match winners on their day and have a strong vein of experience within their own ranks.

Peter Harte has featured regularly for Tyrone for the last decade and Joe Oguz has emerged as another impressive member of the Red Hands in the recent past while Ben McDonnell kicked three late points to see Errigal over the line against St. Eunan’s last day out.

The Tyrone champions will probably start Sunday’s game as favourites but if Cargin are at their best I believe they have the ability and knowhow to emerge victorious.