Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship Final
Aghagallon v Cargin (Sunday, 3pm, Corrigan Park)
Pat Shivers has been cleared to play for Cargin in Sunday’s Antrim SFC final against Aghagallon after his red card from the semi-final win over Creggan was rescinded.
The Antrim panellist was sent off for an alleged off-the-ball clash at the end of normal time as the game at Dunsilly went to extra-time last month with the rivals deadlocked on eight points each.
Tomas McCann landed the extra-time winner for Cargin as they edged out the 2021 champions, 0-13 to 0-12, to book their place in the county final.
Read more: Aghagallon must learn from county final loss to overcome Cargin says Audi Kelly
However, their celebrations were tempered by the controversial sending off. Yet, video evidence soon emerged online and it was clear that Shivers didn’t have a case to answer and Cargin officials were notified that the decision would be reversed.
“Pat's card has been rightfully rescinded,” confirmed Cargin manager Ronan Devlin.
“It was absolutely the correct decision to do so.
“Losing him for the entire extra-time period was unjust enough, so we're delighted a wrong has been righted and he's available for selection for Sunday.”
On the semi-final victory, Devlin was relieved to get over the line against the Kickhams after the Toome men fell to their neighbours at the same stage in last year’s Championship.
“The semi final was all about the result. Yes, we'd love to have played better, but it doesn't always work out that way,” added Devlin.
“Both teams will feel that they could have won the game at various stages but, when it came down to it, our boys really kept their heads and showed a coolness under pressure that shows they're accustomed to playing in such high pressure games.”
The tense ending to the first Antrim SFC semi-final was matched and perhaps bettered as Aghagallon snatched a stunning last-gasp victory against Portglenone the following evening at Dunsilly.
Casement’s had one foot in the final, but were denied by an Adam Loughran goal in extra-time having also led by five points inside the closing 10 minutes of normal time.
St Mary’s were well beaten by Creggan in last year’s county final, but Devlin believes that will only serve as extra motivation for Audi Kelly’s men this time around.
“I saw the other semi final. . . serious drama at the end,” said Devlin.
“Aghgallon showed real grit to even be at arm's length towards the end and played with the desperation of a team that didn't want to lose.
“I know all about Aghagallon and the quality they have in their ranks.
“They've made two finals in a row now and will probably still be hurting slightly about their performance in last year's final, so they'll need no motivation to perform.”
Devlin worked as Cargin’s coach when Damian Cassidy guided Erin’s Own to three successive county Championships between 2018 and 2020.
When the former Derry manager stepped down following their semi-final loss to Kickhams last season, Devlin was the natural successor to the role.
Yet, Cargin’s path to their eighth county final in 10 years hasn’t been without its challenges and Devlin revealed that a training session ahead of their semi-final meeting with Creggan had to be abandoned due to the number of injuries in the squad.
“I don't think people realise how patched up we were in the semi-final,” stated the Ballinderry native.
“We had a number of players who didn't train the entire week prior. We had to cut one training session short because we lost four men to innocuous injuries during it.
“Ronan Gribbin and Mark Kelly are massive players for us. Neither could even strip out.
“Tomas McCann didn't train for the two weeks after the Lámh Dhearg game and shouldn't really have been featuring against Creggan.
“He opted to take a painkilling injection to even be fit to jog, but we were really reluctant to use him for his own good.
"Mick McCann and John Carron also carried knocks into the game and extra-time really tested them.
“We're looking much better in terms of squad health. We're hoping now we can call upon everyone, or almost everyone, for this game on Sunday.
“It's a massive occasion. Always is. Our boys never get sick of county finals and are chomping at the bit to get to Sunday."
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