Dr. McKenna Cup Round 3
Antrim appear to be in good spirit as they go into round 3 of the Dr McKenna Cup where they will face St. Mary’s University at Woodlands 4G tomorrow night (Wednesday). New manager Lenny Harbison has trawled the county for new faces since his appointment at the start of the season and has managed to add a few names to the Antrim squad while sensibly holding onto a lot of last year’s panel.
Quite a number of those new faces saw action against McKenna cup holders, Tyrone in the opening round and got a glimpse of just what is required to compete at this level with the Saffrons conceding heavily against the Red Hands at the Athletic Grounds.
Significantly Antrim scored 2-11 in that game so when they faced Cavan on Sunday at tomorrow night’s venue it was important that they tightened up considerably at the back. The starting line-up on Sunday past had a much more experienced and solid look about it and in a very entertaining encounter Antrim ran out winners by two points against a fairly experimental Breffni side.
Chris Kerr returned in goals and Conor Hamill and Niall Delargy came into the full-back line against the Breffni Blues with Niall McKeever and Sean Burke making a return to the side at mid-field but Burke limped out of the contest after 20 minutes and McKeever was replaced by Sean McVeigh at half-time.
It was in attack that the return of Paddy McBride and Conor Murray paid the greater dividends however with Murray turning in a man of the match performance and McBride not far behind and the Antrim management will be delighted with a return of 4-10 and indeed by a much improved defensive performance.
Again manager Harbison took the opportunity to use all five subs as he attempts to give game time to all the panel and may again change the starting line-up for their clash with St. Mary’s tomorrow night in a game (if results go their way elsewhere) could see them gain a quarter-final place if they can overcome the students.
St. Mary’s will not be easily beaten however and despite losing both their games have been very competitive and look an excellent side as they prepare for Sigerson later in the year. They lost by three points to Cavan at Breffni Park in their opening game and gave Tyrone plenty to think about last time out.
Antrim will need to be at their best if they are to win this one and a victory would certainly add to the positive feeling that appears to be developing in the camp as they get ready for life in division 4 of the National Football league in the coming season where the main goal will be promotion in 2018.
Left: Conor Murray and Paddy McBride who were both in great form in the Antrim attack against Cavan on Sunday.
FIXTURES:
10-01-2018 (Wed)
Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup
Round 3
Section A
Kingspan Breffni 20:00 Cavan V Tyrone
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)
Woodlands 4G 20:00 Antrim V St Mary’s University
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)
Section B
Athletic Grounds 20:00 Armagh V Ulster University
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
Celtic Park 20:00 Derry V Down
Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan)
Section C
Castleblayney 20:00 Monaghan V Queen’s University
Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan)
Páirc Mac Cumhaill 20:00 Donegal V Fermanagh
Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)
13-01-2018 (Sat)
Bank of Ireland Conor McGurk Cup
Final
Dub Arena, QUB 19:00 Antrim V Down
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry)
14-01-2018 (Sun)
Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup
Section B
Athletic Grounds 14:00 Armagh V Derry
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
Burren 14:00 Down V Ulster University
Referee: Karol Doherty (Antrim)
Section C
Clones 14:00 Monaghan V Donegal
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)
NB
It is intended to play one of the Semi Finals (Section A Winner V Section C Winner) on Sunday 14th January if both group winners are determined by Wednesday.
Otherwise both Semi Finals (Section A Winner v Section C Winner and Section B Winner V Best Runner Up) will take place on Wednesday 17th January. The final will take place on either Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st January.