03 February 2012
Time for Antrim to get off the Sligo loop
As Antrim Gaels leave behind another disappointing season opener in the McKenna Cup, we hope Baker’s new regime, with the supporting figures of Adams, McFlynn and Ward and some new players, start to deliver. For many the NFL is the potato before the meat of the Provincial Championship and then the Championship proper. That totally misjudges just how important tomorrow’s match against Sligo is.
In recent years our competitions against the ‘Yeatsmen’ have helped us measure Saffron success. Since 2009 Antrim’s progress or lack of it, through the leagues has been matched blow by blow by Sligo. When we were both promoted from Division 4 in 2009 they defeated us in the final despite suffering a 5 point defeat in the League.
Both were promoted to Division 3 in 2010, when we again beat them in the League to later face a 5 point defeat in the Croke Park final. Importantly though, we both rose to Division 2.
Division 2 in 2011 was too much for both Counties and we again join each other in Division 3 this year. In the course of that league campaign Sligo inflicted the biggest winning margin of all, winning in Casement 2.18 to 1.11; Antrim’s performance was lit up by a Tomas McCann goal and marred by a late Kevin McGourty red card.
Tomorrow’s game will demonstrate if we are yet again destined to match Sligo up and down the Leagues, or has the new Antrim regime taken hold and created a squad that will push beyond our closest rival over recent years?
Both Counties have managers 4 years in their seats, both have overseen 2 League promotions and 1 demotion. Both have reached provincial deciders, only to lose out.
If there is one team Antrim can judge itself beside, that team is our guests tomorrow night. While a defeat tomorrow won’t end our season, a strong win from either County may indicate they are no longer content to track each other through the lower ends of the National Leagues. We’ll be hoping for a strong saffron marker for the season.
Mark McGregor
member Noamh Seamus, Aldergrove
