AIB Ulster Cub Championship quarter-final

Sunday-Celtic Park 2-00pm

Glen Maghera (Derry) v Erin’s Own (Antrim)

Erin’s Own Cargin travel to Celtic Park on Sunday to cross swords with Derry champions Glen Maghera in the first round of the Ulster club championship.

The Antrim champions go into this game as rank outsiders and have been quoted at 8/1 in some quarters but Ronan Devlin’s side will not be travelling to the Maiden City just to make up the numbers.

Glen are the reigning Provincial champions and they came mighty close to a national title in 2022 before losing to Leinster Champions Kilmacud Crokes in the decider after extra time.

Glen made it a hat-trick of Derry senior football titles thanks to a dominant second half display against Magherafelt in front of 5,360 fans in Celtic Park in this year’s Derry final. Malachy O’Rourke’s side never looked back with a Cathal Mulholland goal two minutes into the second period, easing them away from Magherafelt to come home with plenty to spare in the end.

The Derry champions are a strong side as they proved last year when they went on to beat an excellent Kilcoo in the Ulster final and on the way to that decider they overcame the challenge of Sunday’s opponents in a semi-final where they certainly didn’t get it all their own way.

In a side littered with county panellists Ryan Dougan, Ciaran McFaul, Cathal Mulholland, Conor Glass, Emmet Bradley, Ethan Doherty and Danny Tallon are household names and bring a wealth of experience to Sunday’s encounter with the Antrim champions.

Erin’s Own will not travel as no hopers however and will take confidence from last year when they gave the Maghera men a run for their money and the underdogs tag will certainly suit them. Another meeting with the Derry champions was the aim from the outset this term and they will travel on Sunday fully focused on an upset.

A late penalty saw Glen Maghera advance to last year’s final but they were forced to battle for their win against a determined Cargin in Omagh. Indeed the Derry champions were hanging onto a two point lead with the clock ticking down when they were awarded a penalty after keeper, John McNabb was adjudged to have fouled substitute Stevie O’Hara and Danny Tallon tucked away the spot kick to put a rather flattering look on the final scoreline.

Cargin head in to Sunday’s encounter with another county title tucked under their belt. They have a strong panel with experience aplenty combined with a strong youth panel and have won this year’s reserve championship and an under-19 title to add to that senior success.

Ronan Devlin’s side started this year’s Antrim senior championship as firm favourites and defeated Rossa, St. John’s and Tir na nOg to top the table in their qualifying group. St. Mary’s Aghagallon pushed them all the way in the quarter-final but they went on to beat St. Brigid’s in the semi-final before defeating surprise finalist Dunloy in the decider.

John McNabb, Kevin O’ Boyle, Justin Crozier, James Laverty, Paul McCann and Kevin McShane are strong and experienced campaigners and will vie for a starting place in a defence which could include youngsters Sean Og O’Neill and Ronan Gribbin.

Gerard McCann Mark Kelly and John Carron are likely contenders for a mid-field berth while Tomas McCann, Jamie Gribbin, Pat Shivers, Eunan Quinn and David Johnston could feature in an attack that is likely to include Mick McCann if fully fit.

Glen were not at their best in the early stages of their domestic competitions and they were pushed all the way in their championship semi-final win over fierce rivals Slaughtneil. They led that one 0-03 to 0-02 after a less than entertaining opening half but a Danny Tallon goal, early in the second half saw them push on to win 1-05 to 0-06 in the end despite not scoring in the final quarter.

They looked much more like themselves in the final where they defeated Magherafelt with Danny Tallon again the goal scorer and he is just one of a number of talented forwards that will require close attention if Cargin are to advance.

Glen will start this one, as firm favourites but Cargin will take confidence from their win over Naomh Conaill in the opening round of Ulster last year and a strong semi-final performance against Watty Graham’s in the semi-final and it would be a foolish man who would dismiss them as also ran’s.

Brendan McTaggart looks back at the Senior Football decider and events at Corrigan Park.

A step too far

The Cuchullains came to Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon with another ambush on their mind.  Having taken the scalps of St Galls, Lamh Dhearg and Portglenone on their way to the senior football final, they had The Green Machine in their sights. But it was, a step too far.

Cargin are the footballing aristocrats of the Saffron County for the better part of the last decade if not longer.  Sunday was their seventh title in nine years and they needed every ounce of their experience and knowhow garnered in that time to write their name on the McNamee Cup for the 12^th time.

Despite playing the majority of the final with 14 men, Cargin were at their controlled best.  Their game management of these situations is second to none within the county and their ability to pick the correct pass and make the right decision time after time unerring.   

Five points separated the sides at the end of the hour, maybe a little flattering for the Erin’s Own men with just a point between the sides as the clock ticked into the 51^st minute.  Dunloy brought their own brand of expansive football, more so in the first half where they looked to drive long ball in on top of Kevin McQuillan. 

The first half was captivating.  Cargin dominated possession, clearly wary of the speed in the Dunloy attack and the Cuchullains certainly weren’t overawed by the occasion or opposition.  By the end of the first quarter they had a two point lead with Conal Cunning, Keelan Molloy and Deaglan Smith all splitting the posts.

One point separated the sides in the 22^nd minute when Eunan Quinn saw red.  Already on a yellow card, he chased a high ball that was landing below the crossbar and his tackle on Dunloy ‘keeper Sean Doherty can only be best described as reckless.  Doherty was felled and receiving treatment for injuries to his face when referee Colm McDonald called Quinn to his side.  Red was the call and rightly so.  The Cargin players weren’t happy but their prostrations fell on deaf ears. 

The red card was still being debated by the patrons around Corrigan Park when goal chances at either side came.  Seaan Elliott breaking clear of the Cargin defence before finding Karl Fitzpatrick in space.  His effort was superbly saved by McNabb in goals before Fitzpatrick knocked over the rebound.

From the kickout, Cargin showed their class, experience and composure.  A rapid break ended in Sean O’Neill finding Conchuir Johnston and he finished expertly.

Dunloy and McQuillan had the final say of the half to leave the minimum between the sides 1-3 to 0-5 in favour of Cargin.

While the Erin’s Own men hit six wides, very un-Cargin like, Dunloy spurned too many chances at the other end of the pitch in the opening 30 minutes.  Dropping the ball short on four different occasions and against a side like Cargin, passing up on those chances was always going to come back and haunt them.

That being said, it didn’t look to be the case 11 minutes into the second half.

Cunning knocked over his second and third points of the final to give the Cuchullains the lead once again.  It prompted the introduction of Pat Shivers and Mick McCann off the bench for Ronan Devlin’s men.  As far as substitutions and wanting an impact, it wasn’t a bad pair of footballers to bring on.

Experience and youth, brilliance and ability eeking out of every pour.  It was that duo that turned the tide in favour of the reigning champions.

Cargin held a one point lead when they managed to score the second major of the game.  They were soaking up Dunloy pressure as the Cuchullains looked for ways to penetrate a watertight Cargin defence but a piece of quick thinking from Mick McCann after a dubious free was awarded carved open the Dunloy defence.  He spotted the run of Conhur Johnston down the right and he finished with a calmness and composure the belittled his 18 years of age.

Four points down against a side like Cargin who are the masters of game management was always going to be a massive ask for Dunloy but they halved that deficit by the time the clock ticked into added on time at the end of the hour.

The Cuchullains laid siege on the Cargin goal, Eoghan ‘Tuggy’ McGrath going close with his first touch of the game while they had a huge call for a penalty deep in injury time.  Those calls weren’t answered.

Cargin made the most of the space left in the Dunloy defence and outscored the Cuchullains three points to one in the time that remained.

Deserving winners at the end of a pulsating final as the Green Machine continues to rumble.  The Cuchullains dared to dream with the big ball in 2023 and showed a year to the day from winning the Intermediate title against Con Magees that there’s no such thing as limits within the Cuchullain Village.

As for Cargin, they show no signs of releasing their vice like grip on the McNamee Cup and set their sights on another assault on the Ulster Championship.

TEAMS

Cargin: John McNabb; Ronan Gribbin, Kevin McShane, Kevin O’Boyle; Justin Crozier, Paul McCann, Sean O’Neill; John Carron, Gerard McCann; James Laverty, Conchuir Johnston, David Johnston; Jamie Gribbin, Eunan Quinn, Tomas McCann

Subs: Michael McCann for G McCann (36); Pat Shivers for D Johnston (36); Benen Kelly for R Gribbin (44); Mark Kelly for J Gribbin (60+2); Cahor Donnelly for S O’Neill (60+4)

Scorers: C Johnston 2-00; T McCann 0-4 (4fs); P Shivers 0-3 (1f); S O’Neill 0-2; J Laverty 0-1

Dunloy: Sean Doherty; Conor Kinsella, Eoin McFerran, James Scally; Chrissy McMahon, Deaglan Smith, Oran Quinn; Keelan Molloy, Ryan McGarry; Seaan Elliott, Conal Cunning, Eoin O’Neill; Karl Fitzpatrick, Kevin McQuillan, Nigel Elliott

Subs: Michael Smith for K McQuillan (40); Aodhan McGarry for K Fitzpatrick (40); Eoghan McGrath for J Scally (60)

Scorers: C Cunning 0-4 (2fs); K Molloy 0-3; S Elliott 0-1; D Smith 0-1; E O’Neill 0-1

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)

Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship final.

Erins Own, Cargin 2-10 Dunloy Cuchullains 0-11

Cargin collected their 12^th county title when their greater craft and know-how saw them overcome the challenge of a spirited Dunloy side who were appearing in a first final since 1936.

The Cuchullian’s have set Antrim football alight this season and after suffering relegation from division 2, last year’s Intermediate champions were not expected to make much of an impression.

However St. Gall’s, Lamh Dhearg and division 1 league champions, Portglenone have all fallen victim of their power play as a dozen of the senior hurlers have lent their shoulder to the football wheel.

Despite those successes, they went into today’s final at Corrigan against reigning champions Cargin as outsiders and for a while looked like adding another major scalp to their belts.

When Conal ‘Coby’ Cunning Cunning pointed a free in the 10^th minute of the second half to edge Dunloy one ahead there would have been a few nervous punters in the Toome camp but the introduction of Mick McCann and Pat Shivers had an immediate impact with Tomas McCann, whose radar had been out of sync, equalised from a 12^th minute free, which was their first score of the second half and they would push on to win fairly comfortably in the end.

Their victory is all the more remarkable as they played more than half the game with 14 men after Eunan Quinn was red carded for a dangerous challenge on Dunloy keeper, Sean Doherty in the 21^st minute but a Conhuir Johnston goal in the 25^th minute, after great work by Sean O’Neill saw them lead by one at the half way stage.

Tomas McCann gave the reigning champions the lead from a free in the 2^nd minute but Dunloy were quick to respond and points from Keelan Molloy and a great effort from Deaglan Smith had them one ahead after 4 minutes play.

Dunloy were certainly edging the exchanges at this stage and Keelan Molloy looked to be in for a goal in the 8^th minute but the Cargin defence cleared the danger.

A great point from Conal Cunning had the Cuchullian’s two in front after 15 minutes but James Laverty replied with the champion’s second point to close the gap to one.

Quinn’s straight red in the 21^st minute could have been a game changer but Cargin regrouped and Sean O’Neill brought the sides level before a great run by the same player set up Conhuir Johnston for the game’s opening goal with 26 minutes on the clock.

The wing half back looked to have been fouled as he broke clear on goal but he off loaded to Johnston who appeared to lose possession but side footed coolly to the net from close range.

Dunloy replied with a point from Nigel Elliott which appeared to get an assist as it went over to leave it 1-3 to 0-5 at half time.

Coby Cunning levelled matters with a point in the second minute of the second half and John Carron pulled his shot wide of the post when he looked in for a goal as Mick McCann and Pat Shivers replaced Gerard McCann and David Johnston in the Cargin side.

McCann had an immediate calming influence as Tomas McCann kicked an equaliser with Cargin’s first score of the half and Shivers and Sean Og O’Neill added further points as the champions began to click.

Kellan Molloy replied from a 20^th minute free to close the gap to the minimum once more but a minute later Conhuir Johnston struck with Cargin’s second goal after being placed by Tomas McCann.

Coby Cunning from a free and Seaan Elliott from a ‘65’ cut the defecit to two once more but that would be as close as they got with Pat Shivers hitting a great point as the game edged into injury time.

Tomas McCann punished a foul on the influential Shivers and big Pat then added another from play after great work by the influential Sean Og O’Neill before McCann concluded the scoring deep into injury time.

Keelan Molloy hit a consolation point for Dunloy with time almost up but at that stage the game had moved beyond their reach with Colin McDonald’s full-time whistle heralding a sea of green and white clad supporters onto the Corrigan sod.

Cargin scorers: C Johnston 2-0, T McCann 0-4 (all frees), P Shivers 0-3 (1 free), S O’Neill 0-2, J Laverty 0-1

Dunloy scorers: C Cunning 0-4 (2 fees), K Molloy 0-3 (2 frees), S Smith 0-1, E O’Neill 0-1, K McQuillan 0-1, S Elliott 0-1 (45)

Cargin: J McNabb; R Gribbin, K McShane, K O’Boyle; J Crozier, P McCann, S O’Neill; J Carron, G McCann; J Laverty, C Johnston, D Johnston; J Gribbin, E Quinn, T McCann.

Subs: M McCann for G McCann (36), P Shivers for D Johnston (36), B Kelly for R Gribbin (44), M Kelly for J Gribbin (60+2), C Donnelly for S O’Neill (60+4).

Dunloy: S Doherty; C Kinsella, E McFerran, J Scally; C McMahon, D Smith, O Quinn; K Molloy, R McGarry; S Elliott, C Cunning, E O’Neill; K Fitzpatrick, K McQuillan, N Elliott.

Subs: M Smith for K McQuillan (40), A McGarry for K Fitzpatrick (40), E McGrath for J Scally (60)

Following  the important role he played in ensuring Cargin reached another senior championship final with a win over St Brigid’s under an angry sky and foul conditions at Dunsilly on Sunday past, Michael McCann looks forward to another decider and looked back on what he termed as ‘18 months of Hell’.

The former All Star replacement and member of an ‘Ireland selection’ as well as earning county and provincial honours was recalling a period which kept him away from the sport he loves.

“I had severe pain mostly centred on my lower body he said and despite endless searches for a cure, and surgery I just could not find relief.

Eventually I was given the name of a London based surgeon called Ernest Schilders, and on my initial visit I was assured he could solve my problems”

He assured me I was suffering from a condition called ‘adductor avulsion’ and was confident he could provide relief’.

In the event he was true to his word and following surgery and several weeks of rest I was able to walk without pain and eventually able to commence light training, gradually increasing indoor and outdoor activity until finally, I was given the all clear lately.

Back on the Cargin panel and in intensive training for the  championship, Michael was called into action in the semi-final clash with St Brigid’s as a replacement for Pat Shivers in the early stages and impressed throughout, playing a big part in his side’s success.

“I was more than a nervous at first, he said but soon regained confidence and having watched my eldest son, Charlie score a last gasp winning goal, ensuring success for the Cargin under-9 side in a blitz the previous day my confidence was restored and I was delighted to be back in the action following those long months on the side-lines

Michael completed the semi-final with no reaction and is looking forward to another appearance in the county decider and the chance to claim another championship medal which would be his 8^th. The first came in 2006, followed by wins in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.

Michael has lined out alongside his brothers, Tomas and Paul in the green shirt of Cargin for quite a number of years and more recently with is nephew Sean Og O’ Neill who had graduated from a successful minor side and he will hope to lineout alongside them again on Sunday against Dunloy at Corrigan Park.

Michael Mc Cann started out on what was to prove to be a long and successful career when he donned the green and white of the Cargin under-10s. Silverware eluded him in those early years for but he reached the pinnacle with his college, St. Patrick’s Maghera, gaining success in the Mc Crory and Hogan Cup competition.

Michael made his county debut under the management of Mickey Culbert and Martin Logan and went on the serve the Saffron’s under, Jodie Gormley, Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley, Frank Fitzsimmons, Gearoid Adams, Frank Dawson, and Lenny Harbinson.

His county debut was against a good Cavan team and he went on to play a major role for the Saffrons for nearly two decades with a narrow defeat to Kerry in an All Ireland quarter final in Tullamore on the 26^th July 2009, possibly the high point of his county career.

“On the club scene, ‘I was privileged to work under a lot of talented individuals he said, like JC Devlin, Columba Mc Veigh, Danny Quinn, Shenny Mc Quillan, Martin Logan, Paddy Graffin, my brother Eamon, John Brennan, Damien Cassidy, and the present mentors, Ronan Devlin, Jude, and Kevin Doyle and have learned a lot from those men and I’m thankful for their time and vision.

“We face another stiff challenge in the shape of Cuchullian’s Dunloy who we meet in another county final this weekend, and although I know little about them individually their progress thus far earns them the respect they deserve.

I know they have plenty of excellent footballers, and I have played alongside Kevin Mc Quillan for Antrim and he was a superb footballer with brains to burn, knowing the game inside out.

I was impressed with their display against a good Portglenone side in the semi-final and we will need to be at our best to get the better of them”

After a couple defeats in senior championship finals Michael collected his first Seniormedal in 2006.  His first under age medal arrived shortly after when he captained Cargin’s under-21 side which included his brothers Tomas and Paul, as they recorded a win over St Johns in the final at Casement Park.

The McCann’s are a talented family and both Mary (Mc Auley), and Geardine (Mc Ginley), are holders of county, provincial, and National medals with Antrim in 2009 and 2012.

A sporting family indeed with a haul of 35 championship medals between them and the show certainly stays on the road with the next generation regularly spotted on the Toome pitches and the future certainly looks bright.

Pat Shivers who was forced out of the action at an early stage in the semi-final, hopes to be fit for the final on October 8^th, with Eunan Quinn who received a facial injury early on the same day expected to be fit while Jamie Gribbin and Tomas McCann are both undergoing treatment for hamstring problems but should be available for selection.

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC semi-final

Cargin 2-6 St Brigid’s 0-6 

By John McIlwaine

Main picture – Cargin’s Kevin O’Boyle dances with delight after scoring his team’s second goal

County champions Cargin took a step nearer retaining their Senior Football title when they came from three points down ten minutes into the second half to beat St Brigid’s by six in Sunday’s semi-final at Dunsilly. The champions in the early part of a low scoring opening half, were pegged back in the run in to half time as St Brigid’s went in two to the good at the break. (0-5 to 0-3)

When the south Belfast side got the first score of the second half to go three up it began to look like we could be in for a major upset, but team captain James Laverty settled things down with a well taken point from play and when it was followed with a goal minutes later the tide had turned and the men from Toome were in control from then on.

Conditions were good as the game got underway, but that soon changed as the rain fell heavily from the fifth minute on. Enda Downey gave St Brigid’s an early lead as they played wind assisted in the first half. However they retreated back into their own half and let Cargin run at them and it was from one of those runs that Tomas McCann was presented with the opportunity to send over the equaliser. ‘Mossy’ then set up big Pat Shivers to send over the lead point, Michael McCann coming on for the injured Shivers soon afterwards. With conditions worsening as the game progressed free flowing football was at a premium and with Cargin holding the upper hand St Brigid’s appeared to be in deep trouble. However they finished the half strongly and after Jack Dowling landed a fine long range effort they pushed ahead when John Morgan found the target.  

Points at either end from St Brigid’s Enda Downey and Cargin’s Tomas McCann tied things up at 0-3 apiece, but two late points for the Musgrave Park men sent them in out of the rain at half time with a 0-5 to 0-3 lead.

A deluge of biblical proportions greeted the sides as they came back from under the railway tunnel, but St Brigid’s looked more assured and when Enda Downey put them three clear you began to wonder if and upset was on the cards. They did have other chances for a while with no success but when James Laverty drove over a Cargin point you could sense the tide was turning.

The score that really turned the game came soon afterwards when St Brigid’s defender Ronan Boyle was dispossessed by Thomas McCann, a clever tug of the shoulder by Mossy while sending the ball spinning from Boyle’s grasp and breaking to centre forward Conhuir Johnston who soloed clear to fire to the net, the St Brigid’s protests waved away by match referee Conal Roberts.

It was a blow that left the Musgrave Park men reeling on the ropes and before they could find their feet the game was gone from them. The peerless Mick McCann added a point before a long delivery from substitute John Carron dropped in around the square and ended up in the back of the net, Kevin O’Boyle seemingly getting a touch.

When Tomas McCann added one from a free the gap was out to six and it was clear it would take something incredible for St Brigid’s to turn the game around, especially considering the conditions. To their credit they never gave up the fight and when a great palmed effort from Jack Downing stuck in the flooded ‘square’ it was clear their hopes were gone. A goal at that stage might well have swung the momentum and set up an exciting finish, but Cargin were already making plans for their trip to Corrigan to take on Dunloy in a unique final in two weeks’ time… and they wouldn’t be troubled again.

CARGIN: J McNabb; K O’Boyle 1-0, R Gribbin, S O’Neill; J Crozier, J Laverty 0-1, P McCann; K McShane, G McCann; D Johnston, C Johnston 1-0, E Quinn; P Shivers 0-1, T McCann 0-3 (0-2fs), J Gribbin.
Subs: M McCann 0-1 for P Shivers (16), B Kelly for D Johnston (36), J Carron for G McCann (41), C Donnelly for O’Neill (57), Conan Johnston for R Gribbin (57).

ST BRIGID’S: D Heery; F McKernan, J Finnegan, P King; R Carleton, J Morgan 0-1, R Boyle; F Meenagh, J Dowling 0-1; S Downey, O Downey, J Smith; E Downey 0-3 (0-1f), M Downey 0-1, P Bradley. 

REFERE: C Roberts (St John’s).