10 March 2011
Kevin O’Boyle looks ahead to Tyrone clash.
Antrim captain Kevin O’Boyle says that games against Tyrone in Healy Park are just the kind of clashes teams want to be involved in at this time of year. Speaking to the Antrim website after another punishing training session this evening he said the squad was looking forward to the weekend.
“Going there on the back of the Meath win gives us a chance to push on even further, these are the games we want to be preparing for. There is no such thing as an easy game in Division 2 and these matches are definitely a step up from Division 3. There is a faster pace and the games are closer to championship intensity than league games over the last two years. At the same time though each match is 15 against 15 so we look at every match as one we can win.”
Ask anyone within the Antrim camp about the season so far and you get a feeling that there is a lingering frustration over the defeat to Laois in round 2. While Kevin echoes those sentiments he is keen to look to the future. “We did feel that we left a win behind in Laois, it was a game where we could have come home with at least a point. But it is in the past now and we are looking to make progress in the games coming up, starting on Saturday.”
Kevin has adapted well to the role of captain which he describes as “an honour”, though he stresses that there is leadership throughout the squad. “Being captain in this squad doesn’t single you out, there are leaders throughout the field and lots of people do the talking, encouraging other players and driving the team on.”
Saturday’s match is live on Setanta TV, and while that is welcome for followers who really are unable to travel, Kevin is hopeful that Antrim supporters will still turn out in force. “The support really does drive us on, we heard it during the Meath game and it players a lift. We hope the supporters will be there on Saturday.”
Tyrone V Antrim, Healy Park, Omagh, Saturday 7.30pm
