Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Antrim v Kilkenny
Sunday 21 April
Venue: Nowlan Park
Throw In: 2:30pm
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Sunday’s championship game with Kilkenny as Antrim begin their Leinster campaign.
As far as Championship openers come, they don’t come more difficult than a trip to Nowlan Park. That’s the task that faces Antrim hurlers on Sunday afternoon as they begin their 2024 Leinster Championship with a trip to Kilkenny.
Playing the hurling aristocrats, All-Ireland finalists and National League finalists in their own back yard. It’s a far cry from the days of travelling to the likes of Wicklow and playing in a field that definitely could have been doing with the lawn mower down a nick (or three) and more players in the panels combined than spectators… no offence to the good people of Wicklow.
That’s the journey that Antrim have come through in recent years. It’s easy to forget that but sometimes, you have to take stock before going again.
The column inches that have been filled regarding the injuries this year has been mind-boggling, not to mention those who wanted (if not, needed) a well-deserved break. On that front, things have “Improved dramatically” – the words of team manager, Darren Gleeson.
After the press release last month where it gave the details of the injuries, when we spoke with Gleeson, he confirmed: “Gerard (Walsh), Stephen Rooney, Rian McMullan, Keelan (Molloy), Conal Bohill, James McNaughton, Michael Bradley are all available again. A massive bonus that they’re back and ready for the Championship. Conor McCann and Coby (Conal Cunning) were both nursing knocks but have come through those as well and are on the right side of things.
“You throw in the likes of Ryan Elliott, Nigel and Seaan (Elliott) who have come back and we definitely feel like we’re in a good place. Seaan’s coming back from a nasty ankle injury himself but he’s fit and available.”
The injury table hasn’t been cleared, however. Ballycastle duo Seamus McAuley and Ciaran Clarke are a couple of weeks short but it’s better news on Loughgiel’s Paul Boyle: “It’s better news with Paul. All the lads went through a screening check set up by the GAA and GPA at the start of the year. It showed an irregularity with Paul’s heart and we’ve been following the medical advice to get him sorted. He went through a minor procedure but unfortunately it didn’t take, he went through it again in the last 10 days or so and thank God it’s done the business.
“It’s been a hugely worrying and stressful time for Paul and his family. Paul’s as fit as a fiddle and a wonderful player. He had a brilliant club championship and was excellent for us last year. He’ll be back in full training next week.”
Gleeson and his team are not long back on Irish shores having spent some time in Portugal for an intense, warm-weather training camp. Something that seems to be the ‘norm’ these days but as the Portroe native informed us, Antrim did things a little differently: “It was hugely beneficial and when you look at the weather recently, it couldn’t have been better timed with our training pitches being closed.
“You look at counties going out to Portugal and the likes for training, they’re being heavily funded by sponsors and the likes. But these lads and fair play to the footballers as well, they’ve done the fundraising themselves with a contribution from the county board.
“I think this is what makes it more worthwhile.”
The Saffrons last competitive game will be five weeks ago this weekend when Tipperary came to Corrigan Park. While getting some of the walking wounded back on the pitch, Gleeson told us that they managed to get a couple of challenge games in: “We did have challenge games against Offaly in Abbotstown and Down in Jordanstown. They were brilliant for us in terms of getting lads game time who had been injured. Nothing beats game time in legs in preparation for the Championship. Some of the lads who had been injured probably still need some game time and they’re going back to their clubs this weekend.”
He continued: “Rory McCloskey took a knock and is feeling the effects of a dead leg. We’re monitoring him ahead of Sunday.
“He’s been a real shining light this year in at full back. It’s his second year in the squad and he’s been a huge positive for us. We’ll give him every chance before naming the team.”
On the trip to Kilkenny, you got the sense that Gleeson is relishing the chance to pit his Antrim side against Derek Lyng’s Cats: “Some might see it as daunting but it’s a wonderful opportunity. Playing Kilkenny in Nowlan Park in championship setting, a championship atmosphere. We’ve got the chance to pit ourselves against the League finalists and runners up of the All-Ireland last year.
“We’re massive underdogs, you just have to look at the match in Corrigan last year but we’re concentrating on getting our own performance right. You know what Kilkenny are going to bring; they have savage intensity and savage work rate. You have to match that before you even think about getting anything from the game.”
Since this interview, the team has been named with six of the starting 15 not playing any league games and a further two on the bench. The starting 15 certainly has a more familiar feel to it with Ryan McGarry dropping back a line and Ryan Elliott returning to goals. Conal Bohill joins Eoghan Campbell and Scott Walsh at half back while James McNaughton partners Niall O’Connor in midfield. Michael Bradley makes a welcome return from a long term shoulder injury to start on the three quarter line with Nigel Elliott and Niall McKenna while Conor McCann will line out on the edge of the square where he’ll have Conal Cunning and Seaan Elliott on either side.
