By Michael McMullan

IF Oisín Duffin wasn’t the last player out of the Ballinderry dressing room, he wasn’t far off it.

When you’ve waited as long for success in a Shamrocks’ jersey as he has, Saturday night needed bottled and kept.

Under a moustache, there was the grin of a champion. A man wanting to digest every second of that winning feeling.

It was a dramatic evening. When Ciarán Brady’s last throw of the Arva dice was a high hall into the danger zone, Duffin used his strength to hold off Conal Sheridan and clear a path for Ben McKinless to punch to safety.

Sin é. Ballinderry were Ulster champions. With three weeks to their date with Austin Stacks, they can take some down time.

Their championship has been full on. Extra-time couldn’t separate them from Faughanvale in the Derry final. They needed a replay.

Wins over Carrickcruppen, Derrylaughan and Arva added to the drama until they were left holding another piece of silver.

“It’s good to be able to enjoy it finally,” Duffin said. “We had to keep the head down and keep our shoulder to the wheel, but now it’s definitely time to enjoy it.”

After their draw with Faughanvale, it was time to take a look in the mirror. The Ballinderry feeling centred playing within themselves and a need to step up.

It’s Duffin’s 11th year in the senior panel, coming in the year after Ballinderry’s last senior title.

Growing up, his early memories centred on Conleith Gilligan and he had the pleasure of playing alongside him before ‘Deets’ hung up his boots.

Duffin was part of the 2015 Derry minor team who ended the county’s 13-year famine to win the Ulster title.

“This is my first year of success and it’s absolutely incredible,” Duffin said. “I always wanted to win something with Ballinderry. To the day I die, I will remember this, 100 per cent.”

Going into the Arva game, Duffin felt it was going to be a battle and it didn’t disappoint. Being under the dropping ball in the last play a reminder to always have a game face on.

“I’m just happy to come out the other side,” he said. “It’s the youngest team in Ballinderry I’ve been part of.

“The days like Faughanvale and Banagher, they help you for days like that.”

To the neutral, Saturday’s final was an excellent watch. For the fans of either team, it must’ve been torture.

“I never really enjoy a match,” Duffin admitted. “I am just looking to see where my man is and where his next move is.

“I’m trying not to focus on what the scoreline is to be honest because you sort of take your eye off it then.

“You don’t really focus until the final whistle. I’m just happy to be in the other end of it.”

Duffin’s eyes lit up when asked about that special winning feeling in those seconds after the game.

Outside of the incredible relief, he struggled to fully paint a picture. He just knows it will look the part when he does eventually sit down to paint the 2024 story.

“You are meeting your family, seeing them and the boys you’ve trained with from November last year.

“Just seeing those boys being happy, it was just incredible. It’s amazing.”

The 2023 season spelt the club’s unthinkable relegation from the senior ranks.

When they gathered up for the new season, they looked each other in the eye before drawing a line in the sand.

It was all about the forward steps that took them to the last four in Ireland.

They vowed they’d make the best of it and it takes them up against Austin Stacks next month.

More Ballinderry coverage in this week’s podcast