As things stand, county champions Dunloy don’t have any players on the Antrim Senior football panel with Mark Doran set to draw up his first squad in the coming weeks ahead of January’s Dr McKenna Cup
Just four county champions from last season return to the provincial arena for the 2025 renewal of the Ulster Club Football Championship.
While the likes of Kilcoo, Scotstown and Naomh Conaill have an abundance of established county stars in their squad, other teams such as Erne Gaels, Loughmacrory and Madden have only a couple of county players to call on.
And then there’s Dunloy.
Back in 2023, they reached the final of the All-Ireland club Championship in hurling, losing out to Ballyhale at Croke Park.
The majority of that squad are dual players and helped the Cuchullains win their first Antrim Senior Football title in 89 years with an impressive 3-12 to 2-8 defeat of holders Cargin.
Dunloy currently don’t have any representation on the county football squad. It would be unfathomable if the status quo continued under new football boss Mark Doran.
And yet, it might be a matter that’s taken out of his hand. Several of Dunloy’s leading players are already established members of the county hurling squad including Keelan Molloy, Conal Cunning and Seaan and Nigel Elliott.
Deaglan Smith is one of the few dual players not on any county squad and, speaking at Tuesday night’s launch of the Ulster club series, he said he’d carefully consider a call-up to Doran’s football panel.
“It would be something I would consider and I’d have to have a think about it,” said Smith.
“I’d have to consider if it is the right thing for me. Obviously, there’s a lot of things that can get in the way – it is a big commitment.
“You can’t really be taking that lightly and just saying yes for the sake of being there on the county team. You never know, anything can happen, but for now I’m just focusing on my football with Dunloy.”
After winning a senior football title for the first time in almost 90 years, the Dunloy footballers embraced the opportunity to celebrate in the same manner they had when they won five hurling titles in six years between 2017 and 2022.
“Oh, you need to celebrate – there’s no point in playing if you don’t get to celebrate it afterwards,” said Smith.
“We do both well! Hopefully, we’ll get the chance to do more celebrating with this team.”
Dunloy served notice of their intent to challenge in both codes back in 2023 when they reached the county final. They were no match for Cargin on that occasion, but they deservedly ended the Toome men’s quest for an historic fourth successive Antrim SFC crown.
Smith says Anthony McQuillan’s side learned the tough lessons of 2023 and imposed their will on Cargin in the rematch.
“I think a couple of years ago we played the game in their terms and look what happened.
“I think this year we just thought if we could get ahead and try and keep the game moving as fast as possible that it would suit us a wee bit more than it would suit them.
“We managed to do that and got the first couple of scores and it meant Cargin had to come at us. We were happy enough with a shootout if it comes down to it, but our defence really stepped up and have done all throughout the Championship.
“We took the game to them and we came out on the right side. Now, we’ve another huge challenge on Saturday. Any team that comes out of Derry is going to be a great team so we’ll need to deliver another big performance and, hopefully, that’s good enough on the day.”
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