By Michael McMullan

WHEN Cargin host Lamh Dhearg this Sunday, Erin’s Own manager Ronan Devlin is happy his side will begin the Championship run in with a raft of games to get them at the right pitch for a tilt at the title.

After 12 rounds of games, the league split has them in third spot.

“It is good preparation because you are playing teams who are going to be challenging for the Championship,” said Devlin, who took over as manager this season after five years as Damian Cassidy’s right hand man.

This season’s Antrim league began in early March, leaving Cargin with a decision to make over their early season plans.

With no window for the traditional pre-season base training, Devlin kept his side in the gym and they didn’t even hit the grass until their opening game, a 0-9 all draw with Sunday’s opponents Lamh Dhearg.

“In the long-term, we sacrificed a few league games but we knew we’d have bigger fish to fry,” he said, referring to their bid to get their hands on the Paddy McNamee Cup.

“The first six or seven (league games) came at us like machine gun fire. The danger is that as the year goes on, and having no base, you are going to pick up injuries.

“It was very important to manage the boys and rest them for a game. We gave them weekends off and we took 10 or 12 days off at Easter.”

Cargin are paired in a three-team group with Rossa and Naomh Éanna, with the top two into the quarter-finals. They are on the same side the draw as champions Creggan’s group that also includes St John’s, Lamh Dhearg and St Gall’s.

“I am and one side of the Championship is absolutely loaded with land mines. I’m not saying the other side it an easy draw, but only one team will reach the final, so it’s tough going from day one.”

The squad primed themselves for the season in the McCann brothers’ CrossFit gym and Devlin is also content the players have looked after themselves in the off-season since their exit at the hands of Creggan.

“Fabian Muldoon (coach) is in with me and he noticed straight away the culture of looking after themselves,” Devlin said.

He is able to call on a trio of players he coached to MacRory Cup glory with St Mary’s Magherafelt earlier in the season – Conhuir Johnston, Benen Kelly and Tom Shivers.

“It’d say the find of the season has been Cahir Donnelly who played for the Antrim u-20s,” Devlin added.

“Big Pat (Shivers) has another year under his belt and so has Jamie Gribbon. Then you have the McCanns, James Laverty and boys like that. Kevin O’Boyle is an important player at the back with Cahir coming in.”

Behind them all, there has been a return for goalkeeper John McNabb after injury. Last season, Barry Gillis came on board to convert Michael Magill into an emergency goalkeeper for the Championship, but McNabb’s return is a welcome addition.

“I was checking through the scorers and he has kicked 12 points for us, he is a serious footballer outfield. It’s great to see him back on board and training away.”

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