Antrim SFC final: Cargin stalwart Michael McCann wants more after overcoming injury to win eighth title

Cargin stalwart Michael McCann wants to keep playing after battling back from a long injury lay-off to win an eighth Antrim Senior Football title.

McCann, 38, came off the bench to play an important role in his club's 2-10 to 0-11 win over Dunloy in Sunday's final at Corrigan Park.

His involvement in the decider came after an 18-month injury battle.

"Not a chance," he said when asked if he would accept that Sunday could be his last county final.

"If I hadn't been through what I have been through for the last year and a half, I probably would say that, but I am probably more hungry than I was five years ago because I have missed that much.

"I will take it as it comes. I feel good, fit and fresh. I need to get my fitness up a bit more but I am getting there. Every day I go out and don't pull up with an injury is a good day."

Long wait for return

McCann's journey just to be fit enough to be on the bench for Sunday's final was a tough and frustrating one, after he struggled for long periods with a groin and hernia injury.

After nursing the injuries for long spells last year, it took the intervention of a London surgeon to operate earlier this year and set him on the long road to recovery.

"What I went through last year and then at the start of this year I got a double Gilmore's Groin operation in January," he explained.

"I rehabbed that and came back and was feeling good, but something was just nipping. Then in about May in a league match, on this very pitch something went again and I rehabbed it but it wasn't getting any better.

Michael McCann and Paul McCann celebrate Carigin's victory at the final whistle

"I went for a scan and was initially told when the scan results came out that it was over but when I saw the fella in London he looked at me as if I had 10 heads, saying he does that sort of thing every day of the week.

"I was sitting with him on a Wednesday night and he asked me when I would like it [the operation] done and I said I'd get it done tomorrow if I could. I got it done the next day and rehabbed for eight to 10 weeks there and the rest is history. "

Despite the recovery plan McCann had to go through just to be in manager Ronan Devlin's panel for the final, the fierce competitor in him was disappointed not to start.

However, a phone call from the manager on Saturday evening helped ensure his mindset was right.

"I was disgusted and annoyed with myself not to be starting. I probably didn't deserve to start but it is just the mentality," he continued.

"I wanted to start and it took me a couple of days to get over that but Ronan being Ronan, he rang me late last night [Saturday]. I had a good chat with him and he just settled the whole thing down and brought my head round.

"And I suppose 10 weeks ago even just to have been part of this squad would have been heaven so now that I have played I am just over the moon."

Impact from the bench

The wily McCann was introduced as a 35th-minute substitute and orchestrated matters in the middle third of the field.

His quick-thinking set up teenager Conhuir Johnston's crucial 51st-minute goal, which put Cargin 2-6 to 0-8 ahead, with the 38-year-old winning a challenge with Deaglan Smith after a long kick-out before immediately releasing the centre half-forward, who cut inside Conor Kinsella before slotting under Dunloy keeper Sean Doherty.

McCann had high praise - and a word of warning - for the 18-year-old who scored his side's two goals.

"He's unbelievable, an exceptional talent. He has the head of a 35-year-old in how he sees the game.

"He has no fear, everything is simple, he never tries to be flash. It is all about the team and he fits in seamlessly. He trains hard and appreciates how we play. He is from good stock."

He added: "The only thing I'll say to him is that I won a Championship in 2006 and never won another one for another nine years, so you have to suck these days up and take them as they come."