THE jubilation for St John's when Ellie Sweeney rattled the Loughgiel net to secure the Junior Camogie Championship is something that the ladies on the field will never forget as the Johnnies continued to cement their rise in the Antrim camogie ranks.
The victory followed on from a week where the majority of the same squad did the unthinkable and overcame the might of Gort na Móna to secure the Intermediate Football Championship.
It's rare that a club goes and wins a double in two separate codes, it's even rarer when they do it with a huge amount of the talent spread across the two squads, but nevertheless St John's went and did it and now look to conquering the province with Ulster Championship.
St John's duel star Áine Dudley spoke with Belfast Media ahead of the clash with Clontribet this weekend and spoke about the feeling across the St John's camp when they managed to get over the line against Loughgiel.
"It was a really good feeling, one of the best. You know you work hard all year long for a chance at a day like this," said Áine.
"We had a tough run in the semi-final game with St John's Carnlough and managed to come through it, and we knew there was going to be no let-up or easier game when we faced Loughgiel in the final. We all knew the intensity had to be upped and we were willing to do that and for us it paid off on the day.
"It's tough to compete on both fronts it really is."
"Not every year clubs win a championship, let alone two in different codes, it really was a surreal feeling.
"I actually believe that winning the football helped drive us to go out and win the camogie, we had an unbelievable achievement with the football and we knew we wanted to go one further and get the job done in the final against Loughgiel."
The St John's star believes that her club are really unique having 13 duel stars across the panels which achieved so much in their 2026 campaign.
"We have 13 duel stars that are out training four or five nights a week and that is serious commitment," stated Áine.
"The reality is that life gets put on hold for a while and the amount of niggles and injuries that you might be carrying throughout a campaign, everyone has that laser focus on just getting the job done and getting the team over the line."
The ability to blend youth and experience has been a massive reason for the St John's success this season with girls as young as minor having a key part to play throughout both Antrim and now Ulster.
Áine added that her club's ability to have that real difference-maker or experienced head has put them in the position to come up trumps so far.
"It really is a great blend of youth and experience within St John's," said the duel star.
"There is a real bond we have created this year as a team. Everybody can add that something different, like Sarah Jane (McGuigan) who keeps the younger girls like me in check, or Helen Mead and if she isn't hitting you hard in training her daughter Hannah is.
"It helps that we have a management that believes in us and genuinely knows we have the talent there. You look at Niamh Hamill and Hannah McAllister for instance have been great for us. I could honestly go on. The whole team have really shown up when it mattered most.
"We have a really great panel, and whether you are starting or are on the bench we know there are girls who can easily come off and make a big impact and give the managers a hard decision to make."
Heading into Ulster Championship, they will face the Monaghan Junior champions Clontribet, but Áine is a firm believer that the squad is ready despite the tough task ahead this weekend.
"We already competed in the football and saw how big a gap it was from ourselves, having lost in the football already," said the Johnnies captain.
"So we won't be surprised at the jump in level, but we have done all the hard work. This time last year we were beginning our pre-season at the ball wall getting our touch back, so it's been a full year in the making for us here.
"It's on us now, we know our game plan and our jobs, it's about going out to express ourselves once again and showing we have what it takes to get it done.
"To win an Ulster Championship would mean the world to us and the club. Winning the league back in the summer and now an Antrim championship, we've put so much into this year and even what we have achieved it would be amazing to go one further and finish on another high together."
St John's will take on Clontribet in Monaghan on Sunday afternoon with throw-in set for 1pm.
For tickets and further information head to the Ulster Camogie website.
