07 February 2010
Antrim Senior Footballer Team kept their focus yet again today and got the result they both deserved and needed; that was and is vitally important, in terms of starting off the league where they left off in 2009. This is a further indication that their sustained hard work is paying off and again such a result will give the players that all important boost to their self confidence. Things really are coming together as planned and it is a measure of their collective determination and focus to be able to close ranks and hang tough again and again and as required.
Sligo is a county that does not give up easily and it is no surprise that this match was almost at all times one where the final outcome was at best uncertain. Winning was hard going today and some of our more experienced players in particular had a lot of very hard work to do. Four points up, going in at half time was comforting but not for long. Sligo very quickly demonstrated their own tenacity and put four unanswered points back on the score board; the margin was all too quickly gone. It was hard work all the way for Antrim to regain and hold the lead – only just - but they did that, showing yet again that they have that all important grit and staying power, that so often makes the critical difference between winners and losers on the day.
It was good to see the St Galls lads there on the day, to show their support to their friends and colleagues. Again, it was also good to see a decent crowd turning out to cheer the Antrim lads on. There were times to day when the going was tough and those voices of encouragement, from the stand, are all important. Players are often inspired and lifted by their supporters cheering them on; they go that extra mile to deliver. That is the ice broken again. We have got of to a very respectable start in 2010. Antrim Senior Footballers, both the new and the old, are certainly delivering for their County and we have every right to be proud of what they are doing.
SCORERS -- Antrim: P Cunningham 1-5 (1-0 pen, 2f); M McCann 0-3 (1f); D O'Hagan, C Close, M Magill, G O'Boyle 0-1 each. Sligo: A Marren 0-7 (4f); M Breheny 0-3 (3f); M Quinn, J Davey, A Costello, S Coen 0-1 each.
ANTRIM -- S McGreevy; D McCann, P Doherty, K O'Boyle; T Scullion, J Crozier, D O'Hagan; M McCann, B Herron; C Close, T McCann, J Loughery; P Cunningham, M Magill, N O'Connell. Subs: A Douglas for Doherty (40 mins), C Murray for O'Connell (41), G O'Boyle for Magill (51), K Brady for Close (63 ).
SLIGO -- P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donavan; N Ewing, M Quinn, J Davey; E Mullen, T Taylor; A Costello, M Breheny, A Marren; S Coen, K Sweeney, D Kelly. Subs: S Davey for Mullen (63).
REF -- J McKee (Armagh).
Lawrence Smyth county PRO.
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