Cargin’s hunger for success remains

By Michael McMullan

JAMIE Gribbin’s nine-year Cargin senior career sums up the club’s hunger for championship glory as they head into Sunday’s live televised final with Dunloy.

In Cargin, football dominates everything and with it, the desire to win championships. And when you don’t, those memories never fade.

His father Matthew also has a jingle in his pocket. Since joining the panel after coming off the 2017 season with Antrim minors, Jamie’s feet were firmly under the table the following season.

“When I joined that team, I just jumped on the bandwagon basically,” said Jamie, a six-time championship winner at the age of 26.

“We had a lot of experience at that stage and we still do. I just took the learnings from the older lads, the McCanns, Kobo (Kevin O’Boyle), Justy (Crozier) and Closie (Kieran Close).”

The mentality was there from winning two championships after stepping out of the shadow St Gall’s had cast across the Antrim club scene.

The youngsters looked on and learned. When the 2018 final was in the fire, Gribbin picked out a pass for one of Cargin’s five scored on that 0-5 to 0-4 grind against neighbours Creggan.

After two weeks of pressure, it developed into a game of safety where only two things were important – possession of the size five and winning.

“I think everybody remembers it for how dire it was,” Gribbin recalls, “but I always look back fondly on it.

“It was my first championship medal. It was my first real introduction and I got a bit of confidence and really believed I could play at that level.”

Damian Cassidy was the Cargin boss with Ronan Devlin as his right-hand man. Fast forward to now and Devlin is manager.

Despite holding six county medals, it’s Gribbin’s wording of the two seasons Cargin weren’t standing with the McNamee Cup that defines their sheer desire for success.

“St John’s nipped us a replay,” he said of the 2017 when the Johnnies needed extra-time.

“The last time we were going for four-in-a-row, Creggan nipped us.”

The games you lose always stand out but Cargin bounced back to win three more titles in a row.

Growing up, playing for Cargin seniors was the only show in town. The men of 2015 and 2016 made the breakthrough for the rest to follow.

“When I was growing up, Cargin were always in the county finals, but we were probably more used to getting beat,” Gribbin said.

“From a young age, the only thing in Cargin was playing for Cargin seniors and winning a championship.”

An injury will keep Gribbin out of Sunday’s showdown with Dunloy but with brother Callum and cousin Ronan on board, he will have a front row seat.

“The mood’s good and leading up to a county final, the buzz is there,” he said.

“Everybody’s looking forward to it and I know the lads are chomping at the bit.

“Dunloy are a great team. We played them in the final two years ago and we were both in the same boat. It was probably a wee bit of an unknown for the both of us.

“They obviously, would have been a wee bit more into hurling but that’s changed a bit now.

“We played them obviously in the group stage, so we’re getting to know each other a bit more now.

“We know task we’re up against. They are full of good footballers, tactically sound, full of footballers and full of pace.

“For us, the lads are just knuckling down and we are hoping that everything goes to plan.

“On county final day, you have to show up, put in a good performance and see where it takes you.”