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Belfast Live

Sport

Paddy Tierney

It's win or burst for St John's with Antrim SFC quarter-final berth up for grabs

St John Antrim SFC Creggan Conor McCann Corrigan Park Rossa Cargin (Organization) Johnnies Kickhams

Paddy McBride isn’t interested in the various permutations ahead of this weekend’s decisive Antrim SFC round three games.

St John’s must beat defending champions Creggan at their Corrigan Park home on Sunday evening in order to progress to the last eight.

A draw wouldn’t be enough even if Lámh Dhearg lose to St Gall’s on Saturday night as the Johnnies would finish level with the Hannahstown men but lose out on the head-to-head result.

“We knew after losing to Lámh Dhearg that we’d have to win our last game to go through.

“We aren’t looking at what other teams in the group need or thinking about how the other game might go. We just know we need to win and that’s all we are focusing on.”

“It is now knock-out football - if you lose this weekend, you are out.

“Most teams can afford to lose one group game, but that safety net is gone. It is do or die. I think that can bring out the best in teams.”

The Whiterock Road men claimed a facile 3-15 to 1-9 win over St Gall’s in their Group One opener, but lost out to Lámh Dhearg by five points in their last Championship outing.

Creggan and Lámh Dhearg drew in round one so the Kickhams can qualify for the last eight with a draw at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

The sides last met in the Championship last season when Creggan claimed a narrow quarter-final win at Hightown before going on to win their first Antrim SC title since 1954.

McBride says last year’s game will have no bearing on Sunday’s rematch and says the Johnnies have been motoring well this season under new manager Aaron Douglas.

“I don’t think we’ll think too much about last year’s defeat to Creggan, but I don’t think we played that well against them. We still had chances to win the game so the potential is definitely there.

“We’ve shown glimpses of what we are capable of in the first two games as well. We feel we can turn anyone over on their day, but we need to be firing on all cylinders on Sunday.

Conor McCann in possession for Creggan in their 2021 Antrim SFC final win over Aghagallon at Corrigan Park. The dual star won't feature for the Kickhams for the rest of the season after picking up a cruciate knee injury against Lámh Dhearg. (©INPHO/Cathal McOscar)

“We have the game at Corrigan so it should be a good atmosphere.

“I think we’ve been going well this year. Aaron Douglas has been brilliant. I think the lads are delighted to have him on board.

“He was our captain for years so he has always been a leader and someone we’ve looked up to. He has our respect straight away. We are going well and we are looking forward to Sunday’s game.”

St John's are hoping to have a clean bill of health for Sunday's game, but Creggan were dealt a huge blow last week when it was confirmed that dual star Conor McCann is out for the rest of the season after sustained a cruciate knee injury.

Lámh Dhearg travel to St Gall’s on Saturday evening (6pm) knowing a win puts them through to the quarter-finals and gives them a fighting chance of topping the group.

The winners and runners-up in Group One will meet the top two in Group Four in the last eight.

Cargin are in pole position to top Group Four and will finish first if they avoid defeat at Rossa on Sunday (2pm). After drawing with St Enda’s, Rossa have to avoid losing to Cargin by more than five points.

In Group Two, it is all to play for with all four teams will in with a chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Portglenone are currently top and only a defeat of seven points or more at Moneyglass would have them in danger of missing out. St Brigid’s travel to Ahoghill knowing a win puts them into the last eight, but the Clooney men need to win and hope Casement’s beat Moneyglass.

In Group Three, last year’s beaten finalists Aghagallon will top the group if they avoid defeat at Tír na nÓg while the Randalstown men can hold on to second at Gort na Móna’s expense as long as they don’t lose on Sunday by more than three points.