EOGHAN Campbell heaped praise on victorious Cushendall manager Brian Delargy after Sunday’s epic county final win over Loughgiel Shamrocks for re-establishing the renowned values and culture of the north Antrim club.
The Ruairi Ogs ended a five-year wait for the Volunteer Cup at Corrigan Park on Sunday after scraping past their rivals by just a point.
Cushendall had been head and shoulders above everyone in this year’s championship and passed their toughest examination in the final.
Neil McManus's inspiring victory speech acknowledged all those who had contributed to the club’s 15th county title, particularly Delargy and the late John McKIllop.
Campbell, now a four-time county champion, said: “It was a good speech by Neil. He’s well used to public speaking.
“I knew he’d have a well-prepared speech and make sure no-one was missed – ‘Wee’ John, obviously, and Brian [Delargy].
“Brian has done so much work over the last few years. He came in when the team was a bit on the ropes and we got our values back, our culture back in the club. We really drove on and we’re reaping the rewards of what he’s done over the last three years.
“Loughgiel caused us trouble with their runners – they played the ball about very well against Dunloy [in the semi-finals] and they did the same against us.
“When we scored, they’d go up and score. They got the goal near the end and James [McNaughton] was unlucky with his free at the end [to equalise].
“The game ebbed and flowed but on the pitch we never thought we were losing control and I think that’s something we’ve instilled in ourselves – playing right to the end.”
Cushendall await the winners of the Down championship with Portaferry and Ballycran meeting in next Sunday’s final in Newry.
The last time the Ruairi Ogs won the Antrim championship – in 2018 – they defeated Ballycran in the Ulster decider before losing an All-Ireland semi-final to St Thomas’s of Galway by a point.
“This can’t be the end,” said Campbell.
“I think we have a big opportunity for the [Ulster] semi-finals against the Down champions. We have a month to prepare. We’ll enjoy the next couple of days. It’s great for the parish to get the cup back.
“I think with the history of the club and not winning it in five years, there was always going to be a big emphasis on winning it this year.
“It is great to win it but I’m not one to get too high with the highs and too low with the lows but we’ll enjoy this.
“You grow up hurling with all your friends, we’ve been playing together from U10s. We are a very tight-knit community in every respect: the hurling club, the golf club, the boat club, so it does mean a bit more to people, especially older people of the club – they live for days like this.
“It’s fantastic for them. You can see the happiness that it brings them; they’re hugging you and shaking your hand.
“And that’s Joe’s [McLaughlin] first county medal, Ronan McAteer’s as well, there are quite a few others who’ve won their first.”
Campbell had to think for a while to work out just how many county championships he’s won with his club and isn’t quite sure of the location of his winner’s medals, apart from one.
“I don’t keep the medals,” he said. “One, I’ve no idea where it is. Another is buried with my father [Tommy]. One is in Australia with a mate. He took it after a dinner dance one night, so God knows where it is. I’ve no medals in the house.”
