PORTGLENONE were seeded for the Senior Football Championship draw this year as a result of them getting to last year’s championship semi-finals. As a result, they avoided getting drawn against Cargin or Creggan. However, that’s not to say that they got an easy draw on Monday night.

Niall Delargy, one of the Roger Casement’s most experienced campaigners, said that they will have a challenge as they are in a group with Ahoghill their neighbours and St Brigid’s.

“Ahoghill are our neighbours and we always have good games. Last year we won one and they won one, so it will be all to play for for this year. Two years ago we beat St Brigid’s by a point in the first round. One of the benefits of the groups is that we are in the group of three, which means two less games. That may stand to us.

“The group stages was thrust on us last year but it worked well. It adds to the buzz. I am in favour of the group stages because it gives us more games.”

The excitement of the Antrim  Championship will grow this year as more teams feel that they have got a chance of causing an upset.

Delargy agreed that the standard is improving.

“Take last year, Creggan could possibly have won the final. Then there are those who say Cargin are an ageing team but they have won the last three finals. Then you have teams like St Enda’s who won the Intermediate Championship a few years ago and have hundreds at underage. They are a club who are going to get stronger.

“There are five or six teams there who are pushing on. Lamh Dhearg, St Gall’s, Creggan. All those teams when they play, they are tight games.”

Portglenone have been one of the teams in Antrim who appear to be getting closer and closer to achieving championship glory. Two years ago they took Lamh Dhearg to three games, and then last year they reached the semi-finals of the championship.

“The management are here for another year, this is their third year. We are really knuckling down on our systems of play. We are getting real structure in our approach. Players are in their right positions.

“We have quite a young team, and everyone is a  year older and wiser. Last year we introduced one good minor in Oisin Doherty, this year we have Daniel McNicholl coming in, who was the Antrim minor captain. He is the age where he can push on and add to the team. There are a few minors who are around 17 and 18, who will come on for being in and around the panel. All that will hopefully stand to us.”

Lockdown has meant that Portglenone have had to train remotely for the season ahead.

According to Delargy there have been some positives to take from this approach. In particular they are looking at working on things to help them get closer to that Senior Championship title that they would dearly love to win

“It is a chance for players and management to identify weaknesses or areas that they can improve on. A big part of what Portglenone have been doing is focusing on strength and fitness.

“We have been knocking on the door for the past few years. The teams around us have been that bit more physically stronger.

“So this has been a good opportunity to work on that. We are a younger, fitter team. That’s an area we can develop.

“I know a lot of boys got home gyms in over Christmas so there has been a big push to work on that.”

The difference this year is that programmes have been tailored specifically for each players needs. Players can do things on their own time.

There is no waiting about but as Delargy said there is less craic and buzz when you don’t have the group to work with.