With his half-time team talk still ringing in their ears, Cargin manager Ronan Devlin returned to the sideline for the second half of Sunday’s Antrim SFC knowing his side needed a vast improvement.
Facing a buoyant Aghagallon side who had plundered two first half goals via Adam Loughran and Ruairi McCann, the Toome outfit were five points in arrears in the incessant rain at Corrigan Park.
Within two minutes of the restart, Cargin ’keeper John McNabb was retrieving the ball from his net for a third time as McCann bundled home his second goal of the afternoon.
Read more: 2022 Antrim GAA football All Stars nominations revealed
Unperturbed, Cargin rolled up their sleeves and began eating away at the eight-point deficit. Devlin was forced to make some tactical adjustments with McCann causing havoc and with Sean Devlin coming off injured after just 17 minutes.
Midfielder Gerard McCann dropped in to help out the full-back line while Kevin O'Boyle put the shackles on Loughran. Michael McCann’s goal on 52 minutes was the turning point as Erin’s Own forced extra-time and pushed clear in the second period to win by three points.
“It was a rollercoaster,” said Devlin afterwards.
“When we were five down at half-time, I thought we could play ourselves back into it.
"When that goal went in after half-time, I thought ‘Jesus, it is a long way back’ but the team never gave up.
“There was plenty of time left and, whatever breeze there was, it was in our favour.
"I told them to be cute and play with their heads and that’s what we done. They know how to play football and they don’t panic because they’ve been here before.
“I’m delighted for them. We did it the hard way, they came through the hard side of the draw and played a hungry team in the final. . . there’s no better way to win it.”
It takes two to tango though and Devlin acknowledged that beaten finalists Aghagallon played their part in a memorable county final.
St Mary’s also lost out to Creggan in last year’s decider when suffering a 1-12 to 0-7 loss at Corrigan, but they were close to pulling off a huge upset in Sunday’s final.
“The conditions were shocking and it was difficult for both teams,” added Devlin.
“Full credit to Aghagallon, they really went for it.
“A lot of teams, when they are the underdog, might sit back and play cagey. They didn’t - they went for the throat and fair play to them.”
READ NEXT:
- Antrim All-Ireland winners honoured with civic reception at Stormont
Cargin clinch Antrim SFC title after extra-time heroics against Aghagallon
Holders Derrygonnelly denied by Enniskillen Gaels in epic Fermanagh semi-final
Bredagh GAC teen hurler recognised for outstanding contribution
- Mickey Moran remains an influential figure at Kilcoo says joint-boss Conleith Gilligan
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
