28 January 2011
Tomorrow night at 7pm in Celtic park, Derry, Antrim take on their hosts in the McKenna Cup semi final. The match marks the first time since the McKenna Cup competition was re vamped that Antrim have managed to qualify from the group stages. The Saffrons did so in some style in a series of group games which saw them emerge undefeated with a comprehensive win over St Mary’s, a battling draw against Down and, most satisfying of all, a three point win over Armagh in the Athletic Grounds which manager Liam Bradley reckons could have been even more.
“We had several players unavailable for the game and we should have actually racked up 2-16 or 2-17.” As it was Antrim scored 1.12 to the Division 1 side’s 0.12. The scores were spread throughout the team, as if there was a collective response to the need to take scoring pressure of Paddy Cunningham. Kevin Niblock and CJ McGourty each helped themselves to 4 points and the latter was very close to adding a spectacular goal at the end of a move which surely consisted of 20 Antrim successive passes.
Winning in Derry will not be an easy task but given the momentum which the team has generated already in 2011, a McKenna Cup final place is not out of reach. In any event Bradley is happy to get an extra competitive game ahead of the Division 2 campaign.
“We have an extra game in the competition and that is what we wanted. In a way I am glad it is away from home as we have some tough away games coming up in the league. This is another chance to get experience of tough games away from Casement Park.”
Hopefully Antrim will come out of Celtic Park with yet another McKenna Cup game to look forward to.
