NFL Division 4 Waterford v Antrim
Following their opening win over Leitrim in their first round assignment in the National League Antrim are on the road this time as they take the road south to meet up with Waterford in round two.
The Saffron’s did impress in their ten point victory over the Connaught men but such was gained in the familiarity of Corrigan park and this looks a sterner test down in Walsh Park, 200 miles away from home.
Lenny Harbinson is on the record as saying he is looking forward to the trip down south and indeed to life on the road.
‘Away games, and we have three to follow the Waterford test are admittedly in a different dynamic we are really looking forward to those games. We will be trying to use those trips away to advantage using the time together working behind the scenes as bonding exercises’.
Waterford having come from off the pace, and five points behind to gain a share of the spoils in their opening game at Wicklow will no doubt be looking forward to the visit of the Antrim men.
Having looked down and out when they trailed the ‘Garden County’ in the second period and facing a stiff breeze they seemed on the way to defeat until a dramatic comeback.
Wicklow had dominated much of the game and after going in on level terms, 0-05 apiece at the break after facing the elements they sprinted away from the start blocks in the second period and, dominant all over the pitch the home side looked set for the win when they had moved 0-10 to 0-05 at the 55th minute.
Waterford were not to be denied however, and with corner forward Jason Curry leading on the comeback trail the visitors had their noses in front as the end approached.
Curry who completed with a personal haul of 0-07 seemed to have led the ‘Deise’ to a win which had looked unlikely for most of the game, but in the event the home side regained composure after a period of indiscipline to come good again in the latter stages and as result finish with a share of the spoils.
These sides met in 2016 when Antrim ran out 1-16 to 0-6 winners on home soil on their way to promotion but this one looks a much more difficult assignment and buoyed by that away draw in Wicklow, Waterford will fancy their chances.
Against Leitrim the Antrim defence, marshalled by Paddy Gallagher and Mark Sweeney were excellent and gave nothing away while Paddy McBride, Matthew Fitzpatrick and the Murray brothers were very lively in attack.
Having impressed in all departments in round one Lenny Harbinson may start with the same fifteen as in the opening game, and although nothing can be taken for granted in a division in which the Antrim manager says, ‘ a lot of twists and turns may follow in this grade’, the Saffron’s can retain the winning habit.