21 March 2010
A temporary lapse, hopefully but otherwise a crucial loss of concentration and focus on the day; at least for some. Psychologically intimidated perhaps, with the handicap of injury for Michael Magill and unexpected illness for Justin Crozier, Antrim unquestionably and uncharacteristically lacked that ‘whole team spirited effort’ on the day. Critically, the resultant fragmentation was the underlying reason for failure and an otherwise wholly avoidable defeat in Tullamore today. By contrast, there were some exceptionally spirited individual performances, especially in defence, in a match that for Antrim never really got into gear.
The weather was ideal for good competitive football , with plenty of weak winter sunshine, making it cool but otherwise pleasant with a gentle breeze blowing diagonally across the pitch. Offaly would have been no match for a fired up and focused Antrim ‘whole team effort’ but they were arguably encouraged by some very lack lustre performances in mid field and the attendant failure of Antrim forwards to penetrate the Offaly defence or take their points from play. We simply did not measure up on the day and paid the price for that, by the narrowest of margins.
Antrim for all that, were always marginally in control of this game gaining and maintaining the lead almost throughout. However, disappointingly, a number of our senior players simply failed to fire up today and as such they could not impose that whole team competitive spirit, which has been their hallmark; without this cohesive stamp of authority they were unable to press home their superior footballing ability. The analysis of this game will certainly be fruitful and some players might be both surprised and disappointed, when faced with a revisit and review of their performance. Constructive criticism should be accepted where merited, so that the importance of every player pulling his full weight is fully appreciated.
What is more important is that everyone should now take a hard look at their situation; accept in turn the vital need for maximum individual performance, in each and every match. Injury and illness notwithstanding, Antrim have put a lot of honest effort into building a very strong panel of competent players. They owe it to each other to maintain full individual focus until the job has been completed, in absolute terms. Today, it has to be said, was unnecessarily tough on some of those who have consistently excelled for Antrim.
All that is now needed is for a refocus on the role of each team player, a refreshment of the collective values and achievable goals of a lifetime; that of respect for consistently outstanding performance and thereby a maintenance of the high level of concentration needed for the attainment of such achievement. Mistakes happen and the clear lesson is to regroup, refocus and rejoin the battle for supremacy, with all guns blazing and all hands in turn to the wheel.
The match today was essentially lost in the dying minutes. Offaly seemed to sense weakness and piled on the pressure as time went by. At 1-08 to 0-9, for Antrim, with only a few minutes before full time, it was almost a case of another one in the bag but a converted penalty by Offally and then two missed attempts at points, by Antrim , sealed the fate of what in effect was a ‘snatched victory’ for Offaly.
Scores:- Antrim 1 – 08. Offaly 1 -09.
Paddy Cunningham 1G [Penalty] 5Pts. [3f’s]. Ciaran Close, 1Pt. Brendan Herron 1 Pt.
Lawrence Smyth, Antrim County PRO.
