17 June 2011
It has been a low key start to the championship season for Antrim teams so far. Two moments stand out in what has been a relatively disappointing set of results: the hurler’s first Leinster Championship win over Laois and the minor footballer’s defeat of Donegal the following day.
Even those two achievements were undermined somewhat by the follow up performances of the two teams involved, the minors underperformed against Cavan in the Ulster Championship quarter final while the hurlers didn’t show up for the second half V Wexford, having fought their way into the game by half time.
Over the next two weekends the Antrim show can get back on the road. Tomorrow our hurlers take on Westmeath in Casement in the qualifier preliminary round, the prize on offer being a Round 1 qualifier V Carlow at home a week later. If that comes to pass it will open up an enticing Casement double header on the 25th June, but that is something Saffron fans can only start thinking of if we beat Westmeath.
Dinny Cahill has already sounded a note of caution by pointing out that
in games between the two teams in recent years rarely has there been more than a puck of the ball in it. Antrim may have beaten Westmeath in the league and the Walsh Cup this year but it is clear that the summer, Championship Westmeath team is made of much sterner stuff than even a few short months ago. Two weekends ago they gave Galway a hell of a fright in the Leinster Championship and manager Brian Hanley has said he fully expects a big performance from his charges tomorrow. Make no mistake – the Lakesiders are coming up tomorrow looking to pull of what some would see as a big shock. Indeed their position V Antrim is probably comparable to ours going into the Wexford game.
Taking the magnificent second half performance against Laois, and first half of the Wexford game as evidence, Antrim have shown that they can possession based, attacking hurling alongside with a battling, tackling defensive streak. Those two combined tomorrow should prove enough to set up that 25th double header.
Come out and support the team, they deserve it. Casement Park, 18th June throw in 3pm.
Brendan Mulgrew
