While Antrim were making short work of Cavan, I was watching heavy breasted ladies from Tyrone cavorting around the stage at St. Malachy's Parochial Hall, Edendork, drawing great levels of sexual testosterone from the males in the audience that one normally associates with the two seater Astra GT circling the square in Dungannon.

The sultry, gliding sexual displays of the ladies stood in stark contrast to their male partners, who looked more like dinner dance drunks at 2.00 a.m. than Fred Astaire!

As I said at the end of the night, none of them should ever take up synchronised swimming, if they did they would definitely drown. On that evidence, it is indeed a wonder that Mickey Harte was able to find 15 Tyrone men co-ordinated enough to win All-Irelands.

Antrim may not win the All-Ireland, but it is no surprise to me that they are in the Ulster final. Two years ago, Jody Gormley asked me to set up a defensive strategy for them. At that stage, they had just emerged from a league campaign where they had conceded the highest 'scores against' of any team, save for London.

The goals were veritably flying past. I arrived at the first training session expecting to find a rabble. Instead, I quickly discovered that this was a highly talented, friendly and good natured group of men. My son, Rory, came to every session and enjoyed the lads hugely. Paddy Cunningham performed his party piece for Rory over and over, kicking balls over the bar from the sideline, 14 yards out. Out of ten kicks, he would generally land eight or nine. That same year, he posted 1-10 in a Sigerson final. He lacks pace, but he is probably the best free-taker in Ireland.

Right half-back James Loughrey, who plays for St Brigid's, was tested at SINI (Sports Institute of Northern Ireland) as part of their 'elite athletes scheme' in 2006. This involved nine specialised tests, including impact strength, turning speed, vertical jump, endurance running (bleep test) and acceleration. His performances were simply astonishing and swiftly elevated him from the unknown young footballer that he then was to potential star.

To this day, he holds the record in six of the nine tests. It is, therefore, no surprise that he has spent the entire year collecting wing-half forwards and putting them in his back pocket, most recently Cian Mackey, who only thought he was fast.

James has massive pace, strength, endurance and the vision to go with it, having spent his teenage years playing basketball for Ireland. He has also scored steadily throughout the year. Best of all, he is a fine young man who gives his all on and off the field. I can solemnly guarantee that he will never be seen clutching his head while rolling about on the ground.

Andy McClean, the St. Gall's full-back is an outstanding all-round footballer who can play in any position. His St. Gall's team mates Colm Brady, Aidan Gallagher, Sean Burke and Terry O'Neill are all terrific athletes with good pedigree, and have been instrumental in turning their club into one of the country's super-powers.

Then there is Michael McCann who, for me, has the potential to be one of the best individual footballers in the land. Kicking off two feet, he is a great high fielder (even if he is a little small for midfield), has great touch and awareness and has cast off the laziness and lack of focus that used to hold him back.

All through the team they have good players even if some are still learning their trade, but what better place to learn it than in an Ulster Final. Thomas McCann, for example, has great speed and skills, can kick '50s' and finish well. He just solo runs too much, something he better not do against Tyrone. These two and their Cargin team-mates, Tony Scullion, Kevin O'Boyle, Justin Crozier and Ciaran Close, are all great fellows who would follow you loyally into any scrap, an area that this Antrim group have excelled in to date.

Excellent Footballers
When I worked with them, I told them repeatedly that they were excellent footballers and explained exactly why they were. I meant it sincerely but, unfortunately, I don't think they believed me, or perhaps they were still finding their feet.

Last year, they should have won promotion having won the first six games on the trot, but blew it with the winning post in sight against a Waterford side that looked more like a pub team.

I sat squirming in Casement Park as their inferiority complex beat them back into submission. A few months later, with the pressure off, they went out in the Tommy Murphy Cup final and hammered Wicklow, playing a terrific brand of football. On the way home from Dublin that day, I wondered how this inferiority syndrome could be cured. Well, wonder no longer. The Baker has done it.

Jody created the foundations, imbuing the squad with a new awareness of lifestyle, fitness, and strategy. Baker and Niall Conway have finished the jigsaw, improving strategy, team selection and most importantly of all, making the players understand their true worth, which is in the end, the most important thing not only in sport, but in life. Now that they are on a whole new level, there is no reason why they will not remain there.

Unlike me, my sons were in Clones. The next morning, I asked my eight year old Rory what it was like. "Brilliant" he said, then "No, it was far better than brilliant, daddy."

And so say all of us. Whilst basking in this glow of success, we must also soberly reflect that they are here not because of any miracle, but simply because they deserve to be.
Antrim abu!