21 February 2013
Ryan: Antrim need consistent performances
Antrim manager Kevin Ryan has wisely said that this weekend is not about burying the ghosts of Limerick past, but rather about beginning the process of building a new Antrim. Our hurlers suffered two defeats at the hands of Limerick in 2012, including a championship defeat which can only be described as humiliating.
However there is already a new air about the hurling squad and vibes are very positive. Captain Neil McManus has led by example on the field so far and in his comments about the new set up. “I can see the attitude of the whole panel changing - it's very, very together and everybody is working really, really hard.”
The Walsh Cup / Shield outings will have served the team well and while there was definitely a disappointment following defeat to Carlow, the extra time win against Laois and the win over DIT will have let Ryan and co assess the depth of the squad while helping boost morale too. All useful stuff.
Kevin Ryan is quick to point out that the Antrim regeneration project is not a short term one, he is measuring progress over months and years, not weeks. "It's about getting consistent performances, the one thing Antrim have been missing over a number of years is consistent performances, it's no good beating a top team one day and not performing against a very average team the next day. That's the approach we're trying to take.
"But I see this as an 18-month thing, not a three-month thing. It's a new beginning, there's a new set-up with a lot of new players."
This league campaign offers only 2 home games, against Dublin and Offaly; both attractive fixtures which will hopefully draw a large home support. Being away for the other 3 games makes it harder for sure, especially for what is a young and relatively inexperienced squad. While there are new names on the teamsheet for Sunday there is still a sprinkling of older heads who have been round a few hurling corners; people like McManus, Karl Stewart, Eddie McCloskey and Shane McNaughton will offer a reassuring presence to new players like Matthew Donnelly, Stephen Beattie and KB McShane.
Is it realistic to expect Antrim to travel to Limerick and come back with 2 points? Maybe so among the most optimistic of Antrim followers. But one thing I think we can count on in this new regime, Antrim won’t give up and hopefully by Sunday evening the memory of last year’s hiding will have disappeared a little further from view.
