Dunloy seek happier ending in bid to end 89-year wait

Eoin O'Neill, pictured during Dunloy's defeat by Cargin in the 2023 final, is one of the dual players in the Cuchullains' ranks

For the second time in three years, Cargin put their Antrim Senior Football Championship title on the line against a Dunloy side eager to make up for hurling disappointment seven days earlier.

The sides meet at Corrigan Park on Sunday (13:30 BST) with the defending champions bidding for four in a row, while for Dunloy, their quest is to bridge an 89-year gap since their sixth and last title with the big ball.

It is not the only repeat of 2023 as Dunloy are again coming off the back of a hurling semi-final defeat against Loughgiel as their double dreams fell apart.

Despite playing with 14 men for 40 minutes of the 2023 final after Ronan Gribbin picked up a second yellow, Cargin had a little more knowhow on the day with goals in each half from Conhuir Johnston pivotal in their 2-10 to 0-11 victory.

"It's freaky how it's worked out, two times in three years," said Dunloy football manager Anthony McQuillan.

"Losing the hurling semi-final is not something any of us wanted, but again we have a chance to bounce back in a final the next week.

"Everybody is disappointed after Sunday, but it's all positive this week."

'We are a better team than two years ago'

Dunloy manager Anthony McQuillan is hoping to lead the club to their first football title since 1936

Dunloy's status as a dual club is nothing new with many of the key figures of this team enjoying success in both codes from juvenile level.

Indeed, McQuillan has coached many of the current team "since they were about 13 or 14" which became accustomed to winning in both codes including Keelan Molloy, Conal Cunning, Seaan Elliott, Aaron Crawford, Deaglan Smyth and Eoin O'Neill.

"They just want to play everything they can for their club," McQuillan said of the dual players.

"People talk about Dunloy with the football side and then the hurling side, but that doesn't exist. We are just all one club.

"When the boys are playing football, everyone backs them; when they are playing hurling, everyone backs them. A championship's a championship, so you don't pick and choose it."

There is a lot of work to do before they can get their hands on the Padraig MacNamee Cup, however, as they face a Cargin side who know this terrain all too well.

The Toome club required penalties to beat Creggan in the semi-final, but have made a habit of coming through tight spots during their recent run.

They have the new crop including Johnston, balanced by the experience of the McCann clan, while in their win over Dunloy in this year's group phase, it was goalkeeper John McNabb who produced big moments, slinging over four two-pointers including one from play.

That new rule is one in which Cargin have excelled, but so too have Dunloy with their pace and effervescent approach to the game thriving.

"We have players there who are confident enough on any day, dry or wet, to shoot from range and will back themselves to put the ball over the bar," McQuillan added.

"Cargin have all the experience - I don't know how many recent finals they've played in but they always seem to come out on the right end of them, playing their football and that's what they will bring on Sunday.

"We're not going to say we're a far better team than Cargin, but we feel confident we are a better team than we were two years ago and that gives us more of a chance."

Weekend club championship fixtures (times BST)

It is a busy weekend of action across Ulster with finals and semi-finals around the counties.

Antrim Senior Football Championship final

Cargin v Dunloy (Corrigan Park, Sunday 13:30)

Cavan Senior Football Championship final

Gowna v Kingscourt Stars (Breffni Park, Sunday, 16:00)

Donegal Senior Football Championship final

Gaoth Dobhair v Noamh Conaill (Letterkenny, Sunday, 15:30)

Armagh Senior Hurling Championship final

Keady v Middletown (Athletic Grounds, Sunday Sunday, 16:15)

Armagh Senior Football Championship semi-finals

Clann Eireann v Madden (Athletic Grounds, Friday, 19:30)

Crossmaglen v Cullyhana (Athletic Grounds, Saturday, 18:00)

Derry Senior Football Championship semi-finals

Glen v O'Donovan Rossa, Magherafelt (Owenbeg, Saturday, 19:00)

Slaughtneil v Newbridge (Owenbeg, Sunday, 15:00)

Tyrone Senior Football Championship semi-finals

Loughmacrory v Carrickmore (Pomeroy, Sunday, 14:30)

Errigal Ciaran v Trillick (Healy Park, Sunday, 18:00)

Monaghan Senior Football Championship semi-finals

Clontibret v Scotstown (Clones, Sunday, 14:00)

Inniskeen v Magheracloone (Clones, Sunday, 15:45)

Down Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals

Portaferry v Bredagh (Portaferry, Sunday, 13:00)

Ballygalget v Ballycran (Ballygalget, Sunday, 15:30)