IF Erin's Own, Cargin were remotely burdened by history they would be better off not turning up to Ahoghill this afternoon. They have played their city rivals
St Gall's in six finals since 1987 and lost every one of them.
Furthermore, the Milltown Row men have dominated the county championship since 2001, winning 11 titles out of the last 12.
Cargin, notably, stopped St Gall's winning six-in-a-row when they knocked them off their perch in 2006 at the semi-final stage before beating Lámh Dhearg in the decider that year to claim their fifth county title.
Even though St Gall's have won a succession of county titles, a couple of Ulsters and an All-Ireland, Cargin don't fear Carl McCabe's team.
There is not a hint of an inferiority complex in this group of Cargin players.
Cargin will travel to Ahoghill expecting to win. And St Gall's won't lack in confidence either.
And yet the bookmakers' odds for this afternoon's final are ridiculously lop-sided in favour of St Gall's (4/9), while Cargin present value at 9/4.
This decider is all the more difficult to call due to the double suspension of St Gall's pair Sean Burke and Kieran McGourty at last week's Kilmacud Sevens tournament, not to mention the glowing performances of Cargin's new recruit Michael Magill.
It is understood St Gall's have appealed McGourty's red card in a bid to free him up for today's showdown.
The all-action Burke is a huge loss to the St Gall's midfield, while Kieran McGourty may not catch the eye quite like his brothers Conor and Kevin - but he is arguably the most effective of the trio.
Kieran is one of the smartest footballers on the club circuit, a brilliant breaking ball specialist who has an eye for a pass. McGourty's loss will be keenly-felt today should his appeal fail.
Earlier this week, Cargin's co-manager Eamonn McCann insisted that it won't matter who is on or not on the St Gall's team-sheet.
"It doesn't matter, not at all," said McCann, who was a member of the Cargin team that last won the county championship in '06.
"I firmly believe the winning of the match is in our performance. It would be a distraction for us. It's about us and how we play.
"We won't be getting caught up in who's playing and who's not for St Gall's."
The reason for raging optimism in the Cargin camp this year is primarily due to the arrival of Magill from Tír na nÓg.
The former Antrim attacker has not only added strength to the Cargin full-forward line, but intelligence as well.
Magill is what Cargin's attack has been lacking in big games against St Gall's in recent years.
"Magill's been brilliant for us," McCann acknowledged.
"He's a great team player and has shown a great attitude. He's added a new dimension to us and he's fitted in well. He's got loads of ability and he's settled in better than any of us could have expected.
"You'd be a bit surprised he's not playing county football regularly."
Magill and Gerard O'Boyle will lead the Cargin attack with Ciaran Close dropping slightly deeper to pull the strings.
It's expected Andy McClean will pick up Magill and the fit-again Colin Brady will shadow O'Boyle.
Indeed, there are intriguing duels all over the field.
Aodhan Gallagher and Michael McCann should produce a fine midfield battle, Sean Kelly versus Tomas McCann is another explosive clash, Cargin full-back Justin Crozier is likely to face his county team-mate Michael Pollock, while Cargin defender and county captain
Kevin O'Boyle is expected to be let off the leash at centre half-back with Tony Scullion, if he overcomes a shoulder injury, minding the house.
While it's relatively easy to guess that Andy McClean will pick up Magill, it's a little less clear who Cargin will designate to mark CJ McGourty who grabbed two-thirds of St Gall's scores in their semi-final win over St Paul's.
Young corner-back Donnach McKeever did a solid job on Lámh Dhearg's Paddy Cunningham in the quarter-finals and might be assigned the CJ marking role today.
Cargin are one of those enigmatic breeds. There is no in-between. They are either brilliant or abysmal.
As always, St Gall's have the trusted blueprint. But Cargin have a new weapon in Magill this year.
That might tip the scales in Cargin's favour.
? GLOVES ARE OFF: St Gall's forward Micky Pollock and Cargin midfielder Michael McCann helped launch the Opt For Life-branded football gloves at Belfast City Hall last week. The pair will come face-to-face in Ahoghill today as Cargin attempt to halt St Gall's quest for an Antrim SFC record equalling seven titles in-a-row.