By Michael McMullan

CUSHENDALL manager Brian Delargy says his side must be on top of their game when they take on Sleacht Néill in Saturday’s Ulster semi-final.

Having given back their Antrim and Ulster silverware early in the season, Cushendall sent out a message of not holding the titles any more. It was up to them to put in the performances to get them back.

With the Volunteer Cup back in their hands, they have moved on to 16 titles in the roll of honour, level with Dunloy. Now it’s about Saturday.

It’s a repeat of last year’s Ulster final in Newry when a top drawer performance was the foundation of Cushendall’s victory.

Delargy coached some of the Sleacht Néill players when he was part of John McEvoy’s management team with Derry. On the other side of the coin, he is fully aware of what they’ve offered at club level.

“We’ve seen the standard that Sleacht Néill had set in Ulster hurling so we know the type of men we’re dealing with and the stature of the club as well,” he said.

“We know we’ve got to be on it. We need to be hitting eights (out of 10) and nines and tens out of everybody.

“That’s what we’re aiming for because Sleacht Néill will be coming gunning for us.

“That’s what you need now whenever you’re going into your Ulster campaign. You’re playing champions out of every county so there’s never going to be an easy match.

“If you’re not on it you’re going to be in trouble and out so we’ve got to hit them levels and then no doubt Sleacht Néill will be up at those levels as well and may the best team win.”

Cushendall made use of the four-week gap since their county final. Winning the Antrim is never taken for granted. It’s special but the celebrations were out of the system by the end of their Thursday night return to training.

They’ve had a challenge game thrown in to keep the focus and now it’s about getting the finishing touches ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

It’s the fourth year of Delargy’s management tenure. With some of the young players he – and his management team – had at minor level coming into senior hurling, it has helped add the freshness every camp needs.

“The boys see they’re improving and they’re working towards something. The hunger is always there with this group,” Delargy said.

Eight years ago, the current senior management were in charge of a minor team that lost their championship opener to Rossa.

From that group, Ed McQuillan, Liam Gillan, Fred McCurry and Scott Walsh have progressed to their winning senior formula.

“There’s four of them now, who have just have kicked on into the seniors the last five or six years, maybe just before we’ve come in,” Delargy said.

“We turned Ed McQuillan from a really good corner back into a forward and everybody thought we were a bit mad and now he’s doing well in the forwards.”