ERIN’S Own defender Tony Scullion dedicated his fifth county title to past and present Cargin members and his underage coach Paul Craig following Sunday’s tense win over neighbours Creggan Kickhams.
In an emotional tribute, the former Antrim defender insisted he wasn’t thinking about the “next ball” in the closing stages of Sunday’s decider but the people that had built and sustained the club over the years.
“You’re driven by emotion of the day,” said Scullion.
“You haven’t slept for the last two nights and you’re mentally picturing things in your head. It’s hard to grasp the emotion of it until tomorrow, when it sinks in.
“I’ll call in and see my father with the cup [Scullion posted a Facebook picture with his mother and father and the cup on Sunday night].
“He’s in his bed as he wasn’t fit to make the match. That’s the people that it’s for. Our victory is to the people in our community, the likes of Justin Crozier’s father, Paul, who is not with us today and is greatly missed, a man who followed Cargin all his life and his son is playing today.
“That’s the emotions going through your head during matches. That’s the people who you’re thinking about. People think it’s the next ball – but it’s not, it’s wee things like that that inspires me to keep going.
“Our goalkeeper [John McNabb] made a sacrifice of not going on his honeymoon to play this game. Who would do that? It is boys like that this game is for.”
And Scullion also paid a glowing tribute to the man he was being bear-hugged by at pitch-side on Sunday.
“This man standing beside me, Paul Craig, managed me from U10 right up through to minors,” said Scullion.
“This man has taught me more than John Brennan or Damian Cassidy or any man will teach me.”
Wearing his jersey back to front to signify his five winner’s medal, Scullion said that although they’d defeated Creggan, their neighbours had youth and talent on their side to win a MacNamee Cup in the future.
“You have to credit Creggan.
“They’ve been knocking on the door. I went to two or three of their players afterwards and told them that I knew exactly where they were at.
“But it’s hard to show emotion in front of players like that because they’re on a downer - and it’s sh*t when you see other players jumping and celebrating around you because I’ve been there. I know what that feels like.”
Two years ago, the last time the Erin’s Own competed in the Ulster series, they were easily dismissed by Tyrone champions Killyclogher at the first hurdle.
Scullion revealed that an Ulster title was never on the club’s radar because for years they could never get past St Gall’s in their own county.
“Killyclogher tore us apart in Ulster that day. Because of the great St Gall’s teams in Antrim, Ulster was never thought about.
“Cargin were always happy to win an Antrim Championship. Ten years ago, you have to understand, we were happy to win one Championship.
“But Ulster will be thought about now. All year it was impossible to think about Ulster because you just can’t think two steps in front of yourself.”
Damian Cassidy’s men will face Donegal champions Gweedore at Corrigan Park on November 4 in a provincial quarter-final.
