Cunningham’s courage still a key weapon for Lámh Dhearg
IF medals were to be handed out for courage, then Paddy Cunningham would have every right to be at the front of the queue.
The Lámh Dhearg talisman went into action in last year’s Antrim senior football championship final despite suffering from the debilitating Crohn’s Disease and, in what was his sixth final, emerged victorious having endured five setbacks up until then.
It was a significant landmark in the career of Cunningham (below) who captained Antrim against Tyrone in the 2009 Ulster senior championship final.
Right now, Cunningham’s focus is on seeing Lámh Dhearg retain their county crown but he recognises it is not going to be easy.
His side will face a fired-up Erin’s Own Cargin at Creggan on Sunday (4.30pm) knowing it will take an exceptional performance to get them over the line.
Lámh Dhearg raced to a comfortable 2-15 to 0-9 win over St Mary’s Aghagallon earlier this month with Cunningham scoring 1-6.
Their side includes several other experienced players including Michael Herron, Declan Lynch, Ryan Murray and Ciaran Flaherty but they will be without the normally influential Conor Murray who is a long-term knee injury victim.
Also absent will be the experienced Domhnaill Nugent who is unavailable.
While the Cargin line-up is dotted with familiar names like those of Ciaran Close, Kevin O’Boyle, James Laverty, Justin Crozier, Michael McCann and Tomas McCann the side will nonetheless be without two of its high-profile players.
Both Paul McCann and John Carron are sidelined with foot injuries which could keep them out of the rest of the championship should their team win on Sunday.
Former 1993 Derry All-Ireland winner Damian Cassidy is the current Cargin manager with Ronan Devlin as his coach and they are keen to bring back the good times to the Toome club who dominated the competition some years ago.
Tonight Creggan Kickhams, currently moving smoothly in the league, will face Ahoghill while tomorrow St Gall’s take on Portglenone at Corrigan Park (5.00pm).
St Gall’s claimed ownership of the Antrim crown for several years and during their period of dominance won the All-Ireland club title under current Antrim boss Lenny Harbinson, but they have been out of the limelight recently.