Champions’ Dall facing tough group

By Michael McMullan

WITH the league title tucked away, Cushendall manager Brian Delargy’s full focus is now on “three mighty games” as they begin the defence of their Antrim title.

The Ulster champions didn’t focus on winning their league this season. The main outlook was on bringing in some new players.

“I’m probably happy enough with the performances during the season…it doesn’t really matter about winning the trophy,” said Delargy, a championship winner both as a player and manager with Cushendall.

Delargy praised county manager Darren Gleeson for releasing some of their contingent for club action. Paddy Burke, Eoghan Campbell and Fred McCurry were tied up but others were given the chance to hurl at home.

“We ended up with three probably for the majority of our games,” Delargy said. “Darren was easy enough to work with and he released any of the boys that weren’t playing full matches.”

It helped with match sharpness with vacancies still in the ‘Dall starting 15 for players moving up from minor to stake a claim.

“We had boys that came back from injury as well,” he added. “We were happy enough to be a strong enough team throughout the league and be able to play boys in certain positions as well, so no we were definitely happy enough.”

Cushendall will travel to Rossa for their opening group game before taking on St John’s at a neutral venue. The final game is at home to Dunloy which will attract many neutrals.

The team finishing top advances to the semi-finals with second and third going into quarter-finals against teams from the other section.

“It used to be that if you won one game in the group you were nearly guaranteed a quarter-final,” said Delargy, stressing how tough he sees the champions’ task.

“I would say, in this group, it could be tight enough because teams are going to take back points off each other and all of that. We’ll be going full guns from the start.”