14 June 2013
It‘s been a tough week to be an Antrim fan. Outside the county nobody gave our footballers much of a prayer against Monaghan, the nadir of pre match previews coming in the Irish News in a Saturday morning article which was insulting to our players and county.
However there was no little hope among Saffron followers that the team would put up a strong showing and be in contention in the home straight. That didn’t come to pass and while team management could legitimately argue that the defensive end of the game plan held up well, it is a footballing fact that you won’t win too many games where you score 3 points from play and only 1 in a 30 minute period against 14 men.
But – and there are buts - there were straws to clutch at. There were some individually strong performances, notably from Chris Kerr, captain Kevin O’Boyle, debutant Patrick McBride, the returning Richard Johnston and Mark Sweeney and midfielder Sean McVeigh. At one stage approaching half time very few in the ground would have argued against Antrim having a major say in the outcome of the game. Realistically though there is no point in glossing over the massive disappointment which was the second half.
The frustration and disappointment among fans afterwards is completely understandable and is actually shared by all involved. But the personal and targeted criticism from commentators and former players, both from within the county and outside, was frankly disgraceful and outwith the ethos of the GAA.
Did anyone see Darragh O’Se at our game? No of course not and yet he felt completely free to blame our players of late tackles, knees in the back and, amazingly mouthing and ‘sledging’ of opponents. Yeah Darragh, we were there in 2009 and we know how you guys yapped and intimidated your way back into that Tullamore game.
It is a fact that our players trained for months, made huge personal sacrifices and gave their all for the county. If they went out and didn’t try – fair enough, criticise them. But that didn’t happen and we should acknowledge the effort they put in. Equally, there is little point in lamenting over players who choose not to make themselves available for Antrim.
This defeat came on the back of the hurler’s capitulation at O’Moore Park. We can only watch on in envy as Laois prepare for a crack at Galway. On that night there was a big Antrim support, just waiting for the Saffron game to ignite, and…it didn’t. Such a long trek home on a fruitless Saturday evening.
So where do we find ourselves? Both squads are regrouping. Our hurlers are a week away from a shot at redemption. Unfortunately we are on the road again to either Dublin or Wexford. Of 12 games this year only 3 have been at home, we seem to be forever putting €1.90 in the toll bridge at Drogheda. But that’s the way it is – whoever we face will be playing their third successive weekend, and neither of the potential opponents holds a psychological hex sign over our players.
We will find out on Monday who our footballers meet in the qualifiers, and a week later we will see if the squad and management have found an attacking element to add to the blanket defence. Whatever happens it won’t be for the want of effort.
Your role? If you are reading this I’m assuming you are an Antrim fan. So in these games coming up, make the effort to get there again. Leave negative emotions about tactics etc at home and support our TEAMS. These are our teams, and in senior competition in 2013 they are what we have.
Remember 2009? Remember the hurlers in 2010? Remember last July against Galway? It can happen again, of course it can.
