Cargin manager Ronan Devlin’s focus on their next step

RONAN Devlin’s focus is only on the definite. For the Cargin boss, Sunday is semi-final time and the only show in town is their date with St Brigid’s.

It’s a repeat of last year’s semi-final and the summer’s league final that Cargin lost.

Off the field, the Antrim campaign has been in conversations due to Creggan’s appeal against their extra-time defeat to Lámh Dhearg based on the Hannahstown side having an extra man on the pitch during a play.

That’s outside of Cargin’s control. Devlin has been around the block lock enough to know that championship is about the here and now. Cargin want another county final berth.

“All we can deal with at the minute are the definites,” said Devlin, speaking before Creggan’s appeal to Ulster GAA.

“The definite we’ve got at the minute, we’ve been told that we’re playing a semi-final against St Brigid’s and that’s what we’re planning for.”

He can appreciate it’s difficult for Portglenone and Lámh Dhearg on the other side. But Cargin will focus on Cargin.

“So far we’re fairly content, I wouldn’t say anything more than content,” Devlin said of this side’s progress.

The games in the group came and went. They put their ruthless hat on against Ahoghill as the championship rolled around the corner.

“We are probably exactly where we want to be and probably, I would say this year where we deserve to be,” he added.

“I don’t think we’ve pulled up any trees. Basically, at this stage, you’re just looking forward to a semi-final, really looking forward to it actually.”

Devlin has had to plan without Mark Kelly, who he terms a very underrated player, to a cruciate injury early in the league. Youngster Cahir Donnelly has had an operation with Eunan Quinn another unavailable player.

“The senior league itself, we found a couple of young players,” Devlin said of their squad development.

“Even for the league final, most of the panel were away on holidays or unavailable so we used a couple of minors.

“We had Callum Gribbin and Jack Harney starting in that game. Ben McLarnon, though he was injured for that game..

“You’re testing those young boys. The value of the league itself, it is hard to know. We came through it. We finished top of the league in the league phase with men missing, men coming in, young boys doing well.”

The league is gone. Cargin’s focus is on keeping their hands on the McNamee Cup. St Brigid’s will want to prise it away this weekend. The championship race heats up now.