Antrim footballers begin their 2018 campaign in earnest at the week-end when they play hosts to the men from Leitrim in Division Four of the National Football League.
The Saffron’s under the watchful eyes of Lenny Harbinson, who took the reins at the end of 2017, will be more than aware that Antrim will be amongst the favourites to gain promotion from the division but most observers will agree that the standards in the basement have risen of late.
Antrim recorded an impressive win over Cavan in the ‘ice breaking’ Mc Kenna Cup competition following a defeat endured against Tyrone and although they may have been a trifle disappointing in the loss to St Mary’s in the final round Harbinson may well have been quite happy
The St Gall’s clubman, who had guided the Milltown men to an All Ireland title in 2010, was using the Mc Kenna Cup to run his eye over his panel and certainly had the league programme in focus from the outset.
Antrim were unlucky to endure relegation at the end of last term but although Lenny Harbinson will be looking to lead his charges back on an upward curve he is on the record as stating that he ‘was absolutely encouraged by the talent within the county and the undoubted commitment of the squad’.
The new man at the Saffron helm had certainly made full use of the squad at his disposal in the Mc Kenna Cup competition having started the opening game against the long time holders of the trophy Tyrone, with half a dozen debutants before ringing the changes against Cavan with nine changes in personnel in that one, and similarly in the St Mary’s game there were seven changes.
Harbinson will have to reduce his panel to 30 for the league campaign and although it is understood that Cargin duo Michael Mc Cann, and Justin Crozier as well as St Gall’s Kevin Niblock were unable to commit to the cause for another season College players, Conor Burke, Jack Dowling, Andrew Hasson and Peter Healey are set to be in line for inclusion.
Team manager Lenny Harbinson (elft) and team captain Kevin O’Boyle
Antrim will start with that home game on Sunday on the familiar terrain on the pristine sward of Corrigan Park and they will most certainly be hoping for a positive start when Leitrim pay a visit.
The Saffron’s have three games in total on home soil with Kerry based Johnny Evans set to lead the men from the Wicklow to the West Belfast venue on the Whiterock road whilst Ahoghill will host the Carlow game.
Carlow who are now managed by Turlough O’ Brien will travel north in confidence following an excellent 2017 campaign and seeking to build on that success and the Leinster men from the banks of the river Barrow may well prove as live dangers to Antrim’s promotion prospects.
Nothing is easy in the basement division and if Antrim will be tested at home with visits to London, Laois, Waterford and Limerick on the horizon to gain the upward and promotion to regain division three status will not be easy.