Joyous scenes as Dunloy end 89-year wait for Antrim SFC title

Cuchullains Dunloy ended Cargin's hopes of a four in a row. 

Eoin O'Neill of Cuchullians Dunloy, left, celebrates with teammates at the final whistle of the Antrim County Senior Club Football Championship final match between Cuchullians Dunloy and Erin’s Own Cargin at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Antrim SFC final: Erin's Own Cargin 2-8 Cuchullains Dunloy 3-12 

Jubilant Dunloy won their first Antrim SFC title since 1936, ending Cargin’s hopes of a fourth title in a row. Dunloy put the champions to the sword in what was an exhibition of attacking football at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon.

Cargin held the early possession with the underdogs on the back foot from the off, but when Tomas McCann failed to land the first blow of the game, it allowed Dunloy to escape with the possession and drive a counter-attack led by Keelan Molloy who managed a two-pointed effort to start the scoring.

The Dunloy midfield were huge, managing to overturn possession on multiple occasions which allowed their side to strike. Tom McFerrin saw two orange flags raised by the umpires as Dunloy continued their pursuit of their North Antrim rivals.

Cuchullians Dunloy captain Seaan Elliot celebrates at the final whistle of the Antrim County Senior Club Football Championship final match between Cuchullians Dunloy and Erin’s Own Cargin at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

All the early hard work by Dunloy looked to have been undone as Reece Cunning was deemed to have fouled Tom Shivers for a penalty, but Cargin talisman Tomas McCann kicked it wide.

The miss spurred on Dunloy and Ryan McGarry's point saw them lead by four at the midway point.

Reece Cunning then set up Aodhan McGarry, who laid the ball off to Luke McFerran to slot the first goal.

Conhuir Johnston gave Cargin hope at the end of the half when he managed to strike a point before finding the net with a deflected effort - just a two-point gap at the break.

Dunloy got off on the front foot once again after the restart when Seaan Elliot weaved his way through and found brother Nigel Elliot who rifled home.

Goal-hungry Dunloy were awarded a penalty themselves after Nigel Elliot was fouled by Callum Gribbin inside the box. Seaan Elliot converted the penalty.

That was cancelled out when Pat Shivers was dragged down by Ryan McGarry and Mick McCann stepped up and dispatched Cargin's second penalty.

Dunloy's resisted waves of attack and Tom McFerrin put the game beyond the holders. The North Antrim stronghold will cherish this victory.

Scorers for Cargin: Tomas McCann 0-3, Michael McCann 1-3 (1x2P), Conhuir Johnston 1-2 

Scorers for Dunloy: Seann Elliot 1-8 (2x2Pf, 0-1f), Nigel Elliot 1-0, Tom McFerran 0-1, Luke McFerran 1-0, Keelan Molloy 0-2 (1x2P), Ryan McGarry 0-1

CARGIN: J McNabb; B Kelly, R Gribbin, C Johnston; J Laverty (C), K McShane, S O'Neill; John Carron, K O'Boyle, P McCann; M McCann, T Shivers, T McCann.

Subs: J O'Neill for R Gribbin, E Quinn for J Carron, P Shivers for T Shivers 

DUNLOY: C McMahon; R Cunning, A Crawford, J Scaly; A McGarry, R McGarry, C Kinsella; E McFerran, D Smith; E O'Neill, S Elliot (C), T McFerran; L McFerran, K Molloy, N Elliot 

Subs: B McClockey for D Smyth 

Referee: Darren McKeown