Devlin says Cargin must improve after quarter-final win

By Michael McMullan

CARGIN manager Ronan Devlin said last Friday’s performance against Creggan won’t win back the Antrim senior title

Goals from James Laverty and Jack O’Neill saw them comfortably account for rivals Creggan in last Friday’s quarter-final, but Devlin thinks his team still have work to do.

They now face a Rossa team who dumped Portglenone out after extra-time.

“I would say we have to build on it,” said Devlin, minutes after their victory put them into the semi-final draw.

“I still don’t think tonight (Friday’s 2-17 to 0-14 victory) wins the championship. It’s not good enough.”

Before knowing the draw, Devlin said his side would have eyes for whoever they were paired with and only them.

Looking back on their victory over Creggan, he saw mistakes but was still content with their overall performance. .

“It looked like the old Cargin, I thought,” he added.  “That game, it meant a wee bit (more). Every time we played them (Creggan), there’s been the minimum in it and this time there was a bit of separation.”

Tough times

Having coaching Cargin under Damian Cassidy before taking on the manager role, Devlin highlights this season as his toughest to date.

“We had so many men away, then coming back injured,” he said.

“A lot of the boys aren’t even fit yet.  Paul McCann got a tap on the shoulder (for selection) the other night and hasn’t played football in six or eight weeks. I thought he was brilliant there.

“We lost Sean O’Neill, who I think is a superstar. Callum Gribbin, who I thought was going to be the next Tomás (McCann), broke his foot.

“Benen Kelly was out and Tomás himself with the cheekbone. It just was tough to manage everything.”

Having still used five substitutes on Friday night, Devlin feels another handful will have been disappointed not to get game-time. It tells him the panel is still strong.

Cargin’s performance on Friday brought a a balance between kicking and running the ball. Their goals typified that mix.

The first goal came from John Carron winning a mark from John McNabb’s kick-out before floated a diagonal ball to Conhuir Johnston who made the goal for Jack O’Neill.

“Conhuir is safe as houses under any sort of a ball,” Devlin said.

“Someone asked me, three months ago, whatever happened to that Conhuir Johnson lad.

“I thought, ‘Jesus, come up to our training’.  He had a couple of tough years with injuries. He’s built like a tank and looks as if he’s turned that corner in that his body is now playing ball with him.”

Cargin’s second goal was a rasper from James Laverty who began the move back in his own defence. It was the perfect example of playing the ball to the best placed man, from back to front. A contrast to their ability to kick long.

“He’s a clinker,” Devlin said of Laverty’s impact. “Since I took over as manager, James has been my captain.

“We changed the captain, just for rotation’s sake but we didn’t lose a leader. He is something else in that pitch. He’s just a very driven player.”