31 December 2011
Antrim senior football team manager Liam Bradley is busy preparing for his fourth season in charge of the Saffrons, and his enthusiasm for the job remains as high as ever. The Antrim 2012 year begins in earnest on Sunday week with a trip to Fermanagh in the opening round of the McKenna Cup, and ‘Baker’ will be looking for a win.
“We will be playing in 4 competitions, the McKenna Cup, National League, the Ulster Championship and the All Ireland series, and we want to win as many games as we can in all four.”
Last year a draw against Down and an away win over Armagh propelled Antrim into the semi final stage of the early season competition where they lost a competitive game to Derry. Bradley viewed the extra game as useful and wants to get as many pre league games under the belt as possible.
“I am on the record as saying that we are too reliant on Paddy Cunningham for scores, both from open play and placed balls and that is something we need to put right. I hope that through the McKenna Cup we can spread the scoring responsibility and I am very hopeful of adding some forwards to the squad.
“The league is very important and I want to see Antrim back in Division 2 at the end of this campaign. Anyone who saw our games last year will say that without the weakened squad and the impact of injuries, we probably would have retained our place in Division 2 so that is our aim for the league.”
Like many inter county managers Bradley is frustrated by the ban on collective training during November and December. “It is a burden but at least Andy Ward has been able to get the guys working on their individual conditioning programmes and with Gearoid and Paul coming on board there is a freshness about the approach. We start training again next Tuesday and I hope that Antrim followers will see the benefits of the new team working together come the competitive games.
Pressed on his ambition for the year the Baker’s bottom line is simple.
“We’ll be looking to win every game we go out and play, it’s as simple as that, and we’ll see where that takes us.”
Over the three years since Bradley took over in 2009 Antrim secured promotion twice and fell to relegation once. We have won 4 championship games and drawn one, losing to counties who have invariably gone on to play in All Ireland finals or semi finals. Bradley’s enthusiasm and commitment is at the same high level it was at the beginning of 2009 – set your hopes on high and let’s hope 2012 is a saffron year to remember.
McKenna Cup
Rd 1 Fermanagh V Antrim, Brewster Park, 2pm, Sunday 8th January
Rd 2 Antrim V Tyrone, Casement Park, 2pm Sunday 15th January
Rd 3 Antrim V Queen’s University, Casement Park, Wednesday 18th January, 7.30pm
Brendan Mulgrew