17 May 2012
One name on the list of players included in the Antrim Championship squad led to a burst of pride in one particular corner of the GAA world. St Agnes, formed in 1951 has provided county players at minor and U21 level in both codes and a few years ago the club was well represented on an Antrim team which won the junior All Ireland hurling final. Kevin Grieve’s inclusion in the Antrim panel at the start of this year was an achievement well merited and well received and a lot of ‘Aggies’ members will be hoping their club mate sees some action this summer.
For Kevin though the team is all important and he is looking for a long summer’s hurling with the saffrons. I caught up with Kevin at the fans open night last Friday and asked him about the step up from junior club hurling to the county scene.
“It was a big step up in intensity from club to county, even at the start of the year when we were blowing the cobwebs off. But it’s like anything you put the work in and you get used to the new level.”
Asked about the mood in the Antrim camp heading into the summer and Kevin is full of positives.
“Even between the league and now there is a big difference in the level of training and preparation. Everyone is looking forward to getting started against Westmeath and we’ll see how far we can go.”
The crucial question: Are you enjoying it? “Absolutely, if I didn’t love hurling I wouldn’t do it, club or county. I’m looking forward to the summer.”
Good luck to Kevin and the Antrim management and squad as they get ready for the start of the Leinster Championship
Brendan Mulgrew
