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Experience was the key to Antrim final success - Delargy

The Cushendall squad celebrates their Antrim final victory over Ballycastle  
The Cushendall squad celebrates their Antrim final victory over Ballycastle   The Cushendall squad celebrates their Antrim final victory over Ballycastle  

CUSHENDALL defender Seán Delargy says their experience of Championship finals was the crucial difference in last Sunday’s dramatic victory over Ballycastle in Dunloy.

It was Ballycastle’s first appearance in a Championship final in 14 years and, despite leading by nine points at half-time, the McQuillan’s couldn’t close the game out. With the wind at their backs in the second half, Cushendall blitzed their rivals with a magnificent 2-5 in an eight-minute spell although the width of the crossbar played a massive role in the Ruairí Óg club retaining the Volunteer Cup. 

Shane Jennings saw his stoppage-time effort come off Cushendall’s upright which would have put Ballycastle one in front had it sneaked under the crossbar. As it transpired, Conor Carson and Neil McManus split Ballycastle’s posts in the final minute to seal a four-point win for Cushendall in what was a fantastic final.  

“We knew we were still in the game at half-time, we knew there was a big breeze [in our favour],” said Delargy. 

“In fairness, Ballycastle hurled us off the park in the first half but we knew if we put it up to them, Championship nerves were always going to come into it. It was always going to happen. They hadn’t been in a Championship final in 14 years. Absolutely, that plays a part.”

The 33-year-old wing-back added: “We learned from last year if you stick with teams and you get your noses in front the other team starts making the mistakes. You can put that down to pressure.

“But we were definitely lucky, we rode our luck as they hit one off the bar. When your luck’s in your luck’s in.”

Sunday was the former county star’s fifth Championship triumph, and even though Cushendall won’t win a more dramatic county title than last Sunday’s, Delargy insisted every winner’s medal is equally special.

“They are all the same. Championships are Championships. That’s five I’ve won – but that was a wee bit hairy. Ballycastle put it up to us. We knew ourselves," he said. 

“We’d been in that position before in county finals. There was nobody in the changing room talking at half-time. We regrouped and we went out and did it. It was a fantastic performance.”

John McKillop’s side won three tight games to retain their title this season. They mounted an incredible comeback to beat St John’s in their opener, they edged 2012 All-Ireland champions Loughgiel by a point and were nine points down against Ballycastle and came back to win by four. 

“Look at the character we showed against St John’s. We were dead and buried in that game with five minutes left. The character in this team says: ‘Let’s keep going, let’s keep working hard’, and we scraped over the line that day.

“We knew what we were getting against Loughgiel the next day. We scraped over the line against them and we scraped over the line against Ballycastle. This team has great character.  There is talent everywhere on that team and they showed against Ballycastle. Some boys maybe weren’t performing and we put on the subs and they did the business. 

“We’ve a strong panel now and the younger players are clipping at the heels of the older boys.”

The prospect of competing in Ulster again after losing to Portaferry last season didn’t enter Delargy’s head prior to Sunday’s epic decider.

“We never thought about Ulster this year. Our first match was St John’s. Our next match was Loughgiel and we weren’t thinking any further ahead than Ballycastle. We’ll enjoy ourselves for a couple of days and then think about Ulster.”

Holding his young son in his arms and proud owner of five county championship medals, you got the impression the veteran Ruairí Óg clubman would savour this one more than any other.

“I’m 33 now and you never know when your career could be over. It could end in a flash, an injury or anything, so you have to appreciate it when you win them.”