Contenders or also-rans? Paul Shiels knew what Dunloy were capable of. Taking it to the next level would be the challenge.
As he watched last season’s breathless club final between Ballygunner and Ballyhale, the penny dropped.
Shiels felt the Antrim champions could conquer Slaughtneil despite a woeful recent record against Mickey McShane’s men.
Read more: Dunloy vs Ballyhale: Gregory O’Kane offers injury update ahead of All-Ireland decider
The Derry men were far from disgraced when they suffered a five-point loss to the eventual All-Ireland champions in the semi-final last January with Ballygunner winning 2-19 to 1-17. If Slaughtneil weren’t far off the mark, Shiels believed Dunloy weren’t either.
“Every time you watch a team winning an All-Ireland title, you think ‘I’d love that to be my club’ and it gives you a lift at the start of a new season,” said Shiels.
“You know you aren’t that far away if you can improve slightly. You never know how close you are to a breakthrough at club level - you probably aren’t as far away as you think.
“I remember watching last year’s final at home - it was an epic game.
“Ballyhale are just an ever-present in the All-Ireland Club series. I’d say they’ll be feeling a bit of hurt after last year’s All-Ireland final. They’ll want to prove a point as well.
“We’d that hurt last year too and met as a group shortly after the Ulster campaign to reassess what we were trying to do and what we wanted to achieve as a group.
“Everybody put their shoulder to the wheel and there was a different feel to this year. With the talent we had coming through, I felt we’d get to Croke Park at some stage.
“We always felt that this day would come. We’ve had our troubles in Ulster, but we always felt that, if we got to Croke Park, we could do ourselves justice. We managed to do that in the semi-final - now there’s a bigger test coming down the line.”
Shiels made only a late cameo in the Ulster final win over Slaughtneil at the Athletic Grounds and was introduced for the injured Aaron Crawford early in the second half of their All-Ireland semi-final victory over St Thomas’.
After putting a long-term groin injury behind him, Shiels thought his season might be over when he sustained a back injury in the county final win over Cushendall.
An innocuous challenge resulted in Antrim captain Eoghan Campbell landing on his back, but Shiels played through the pain barrier as the Cuchullain’s won a fourth successive county final.
After completing another gruelling rehab period, Shiels has declared himself fully fit for Sunday’s clash with Ballyhale at Croke Park, but is adamant that it is Gregory O’Kane’s call as to whether he is held in reserve once more.
“I’m available for selection. I’d been struggling early in the season, but I’m getting back to full fitness,” added Shiels.
“With Aaron (Crawford) getting injured in the semi-final, I was put in a bit earlier than we’d planned.
“When you are watching the match, you are studying things and taking it all in so you don’t have time to dwell or feel sorry for yourself.
“You are trying to gain as much information as you can so that, when you do come in, you can affect the game in the right way.
“It might be different if you are sitting in the stand and you are not available, but when you're in the squad, you have to be ready when you’re called on.”
Read next:
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- Allianz Football League fixtures: A complete guide to the 2023 season
Tyrone vs Derry: Mattie Donnelly believes emerging stars will drive Red Hands forward in 2023
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