05 September 2013
This article by Eoghan Cormcian appeared in the Irish Examiner last Monday.
It seemed rather fitting that it would be Kevin Ryan who greeted the Antrim bus as it docked at the Mount Sion GAA grounds on Saturday morning.
Ryan is well used to the 330km trek north and with the shoe now on the other foot, the Antrim manager wasn’t going to let pass the opportunity to welcome his adopted county onto Déise soil.
Acquainting himself with the next generation of Antrim hurling, Ryan led Paul McLaughlin’s squad on a tour of the clubhouse, concluding upstairs where some brief advice was offered. His message was simple. This was another Saturday, and another chance for Antrim hurling to move forward. McLaughlin’s boys didn’t need second telling. Then again, they weren’t going to let slide ten months of hard slog.
Stretching back to last October when the county’s U14 panel for 2013 was finalised, the 24-man panel availed of Jordanstown’s indoor facilities to train throughout winter, taking two weeks off during the Christmas. Every run, drill and tackle geared towards this weekend.
Perhaps winning the Tony Forristal outright was too big a leap, but the Antrim lads were intent on making a statement.
“If we wanted to be able to compete with the likes of Clare and Galway, I knew we would need to get a head start,” said McLoughlin. “I knew the lads from O’Donovan Rossa and Ciaran Kearney (joint-manager) knew the lads from Cushendall. We knew there was a good nucleus there and the rest of the clubs chipped in with two, three players.”
Indeed, the first shoots of progress arrived not in saffron colours, rather the navy and gold of O’Donovan Rossa who captured the Division 2 title at the Féile na nGael finals last month. Seven of McLaughlin’s panel lent their hand as the club recorded a sterling 1-8 to 1-7 win over St. Rynaghs of Offaly. Success at the Ulster U14 competition ensued, with further victories against Kilkenny and Westmeath at the Leinster blitz also recorded.
Still McLoughlin wasn’t convinced.
“All year we have been telling the lads that it doesn’t matter who they are playing. If they are playing Kilkenny or Cork, it really doesn’t matter, they are all 13 and 14-year olds, just like our lads. They are only starting out at inter-county level and our lads really shouldn’t have anything to fear.”
Given their early start on Saturday morning, the team pit-stopped in Kilkenny on Friday evening and once the meal was out of the way, Richie Hogan addressed the panel. The Kilkenny forward shared with the squad his two outings at the Tony Forristal tournament. On both years, his Kilkenny team failed to garner a single victory.
If McLaughlin’s message hadn’t already hit home, it certainly had now. “It doesn’t matter what team they are, all these guys are the same age, the same build, they are just starting out,” he repeated.
The clash of Waterford and Clare had just finished when Antrim and Laois stepped out onto the Mount Sion turf for their group 1 fixture. Those who watched attentively the previous fare had retreated inside for a cup of tea - indicative really of the attitude towards hurling’s second tier counties.
Standing on the bank were the McGreeevey’s of O’Donovan Rossa, the Blair’s of Loughgiel Shamrocks, the McAteer’s of Cushendall – each family having hoped onto the M1 at around 6am that morning.
Laois were easily accounted for, before the challenge of Wexford was negotiated, if only just. The two victories moved Antrim into the semi-finals and with six minutes remaining in their penultimate round joust with Clare, the northerners held a slender advantage. Alas, it was not be. The Banner pilfered a series of late goals to advance by 7-9 to 3-10.
Regardless, another step forward had been taken.
“This is where it is at,” stressed McLaughlin. “This is where we need to be. You have to be competing against the best. The boys tired in the end, but our results here today and the performance of our U21’s last week in Thurles can only be good for Antrim hurling.
“We have plenty to build on and the future is good for these guys, I just hope the county board take the results of today on board and keep at these lads into the future.”
