05 March 2012
Liam Bradley has the air of a man who knows that his task is on course – but far from complete. Speaking today to the Antrim website he acknowledged that his football team have had a good start, and he knows that the hardest tests are to come.
“At the start of the season our aim was to get promotion back into Division 2, and we knew full well that wouldn’t be easily achieved. I think that last year we were unlucky to be relegated, we played plenty of games where we were deprived of key players and that held us back. But I think Antrim football belongs in Division 2 at least and that is where we want to be.”
Asked to reflect on the three games played so far Bradley is firm in his reply. “We have the points we wanted, as a management team and a group of players we go out to win every game so we have to be happy with where we are, but there were lessons in each game for us to take on board, mistakes we know we have to sort out. Make no mistake, this Antrim team is far from the finished article.”
Bradley called on a number of subs on Saturday night and he revealed that over the course of the next 3 weeks he expects the strength of his squad to be tested.
“We told the boys on Saturday after the game that in the next three weekends we expect to use most if not all of the players in the squad. Four games in a row is a lot to ask this early in the year but that is why we have a squad of players. Our squad has strength and depth and lads that have come in have done very well. This Sunday will be our toughest test yet and we need to be ready for it. “
The ‘Baker’ believes that any team finishing on 10 points or more is likely to feature in the promotion shake up. “Teams are going to start taking points off each other, and we have some very hard games coming up, starting this Sunday. If we can pick up another couple of wins we will be right in there fighting for promotion.”
Although he is responsible for the fortunes of the Saffron footballers Bradley was eager to point to the feel-good factor in Antrim at the moment.
“We have started well and so have the county hurlers. They had a brilliant win in their first match and don’t forget about Loughgiel, they are in the All-Ireland club final. So things are going well in Antrim, there is a feel-good factor at the moment and long may that continue. We’ll be doing our best to keep it going.”
Bradley is 100 % right; across both codes the level of commitment and ambition is clear to see. The squads are working as hard as any in the country and they deserve the support of all Antrim Gaels
Brendan Mulgrew
PRO
