The South Belfast men will be aiming to win the Padraig McNamee Cup for the first time in their first final appearance when they meet 16-time winners Rossa in Sunday's final at Corrigan Park

Cathal Murray was a proud Hilltown man as he watched his native Clonduff defeat Burren in last Sunday’s Down SFC final.

This Sunday, he’ll be sideline bidding to steer St Brigid’s to Antrim SFC glory at the first attempt as the south Belfast side take on Rossa in an all-city decider at Corrigan Park.

Rossa were last in a senior decider back in 1991 when they won the Padraig McNamee Cup for the 16th time, putting them third on the roll of honour behind St John’s (24) and St Gall’s (19).

Formed in 1998, St Brigid’s are bidding to win their first title in what is their first appearance in a senior final.

Speaking at a media event in Dunsilly ahead of Sunday’s final, Murray said he hopes St Brigid’s can take inspiration from Clonduff win last weekend as they ended a 26-year wait to lift the Frank O’Hare Cup following their four-point win over Burren in Newry.

“I told the boys to watch the game to watch the intensity that these games, county finals, are played at, and what it means to teams to play at that level and to play for the county titles,” said Murray.

“Every county maybe has a difference approach to that, but when you reach the knockout stage, there’s an awful lot at stake, nevermind the emotion at the end with the crowds coming on- it just means so much to the people involved.

“Just to get a gauge for the intensity of what county finals brings to a type of player. You can be Man-of-the-Match and shoot the lights out all the way, but ultimately, you need to deliver on the big days and the days don’t come any bigger than the county final.”

On Clonduff success, he added: “For the size of the club, the facilities and they’re involved in all aspects of the GAA, they haven’t had great success in the last number of years. That doesn’t stop the work that’s going on behind the scenes.

“So, it was great to see that it's all coming to fruition. Gearoid (Adams) has put in a hard shift and Mark Poland has come in and made a massive difference too and it was great to see.”

It will be the first time since 2017 that a team from Belfast, let alone both finalists, have reached the Antrim SFC decider.

Following Lámh Dhearg’s victory over St John’s nine years ago, Cargin have been the dominant force in the county, winning six titles in that period with Creggan winning the 2021 crown while Dunloy were county champions last season.

While they are making their first appearance in the final, St Brigid's have been unlucky in recent campaigns - losing out to the eventual winner in each of the last three seasons.

Yet, Murray hopes those defeats, which included a one-point quarter-final loss to Dunloy last term, will stand to his players against Rossa on Sunday.

“You have to experience that loss. You can only beaten so many times before you have to do something about it,” said Murray, who won three successive Louth titles with St Mary’s of Ardee.

“Even last year, not even getting beyond the quarter-finals. . . I don’t know whether there’s an expectation within the group that you’re entitled to something. Nobody is entitled to anything and you can see it with the final - two teams who maybe weren’t as fancied as some of the bigger names.

“Nobody is entitled to anything - you earn and you don’t have the right to be anywhere.

“You just earn the right to compete and to obviously encourage them to make that final step and get to a final and hopefully win it.”