Team captain Conor McKinley leads his team out against Dublin at Parnell Park three weeks ago. Pic by John McIlwaine

Allianz National Hurling League – Division 1B

Sunday February 4 @ 2pm

Antrim vs Dublin @ Corrigan Park, Belfast

Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)

By Brendan McTaggart

All eyes turn to Corrigan Park on Sunday for Antrim’s first home match in the National League as the Saffrons welcome Dublin to Ireland’s second city.  It will come just seven days after their first match in of the campaign and a three point defeat to All-Ireland champions, Galway.  It was an incredible performance from the Antrim men who held a three point lead going into the final ten minutes at Pearse Stadium only for Galway to show just why they are currently the best in the business.

Antrim were expected to get very little from their trip to the west but there are major positives to be taken from the performance but as team Captain Conor McKinley told us, glorious defeats don’t equate to precious league points: “First and foremost, it’s a defeat and that’s the bottom line and that’s what the league table shows but we’re happy with the performance we put in.

“Maybe not from an actual hurling perspective because it’s never going to be the most eye-catching hurling in January, but from the effort and work-rate by everyone showed that we could compete with the best in the business.”

“The biggest positive to come out of the match is the belief the performance has given us.  It’s always been a downfall in Antrim squads in the past and for as long as I’ve been involved with Antrim that there was almost an acceptance that we weren’t good enough against the bigger teams, that we couldn’t compete, and we didn’t realise just how good we could and can be.  Sunday give us a glimpse of what we could achieve.

“It was great to come off that pitch knowing that every one of us gave everything we had.  It shows that we’ve been putting the work in on the training ground.  The work and commitment shown in recent years has been savage but that’s a requirement.  That’s the minimum ask of a county hurler but to know that we competed against Galway was nice.”

The game really was in the melting pot going into the final quarter with Antrim performing out of their skin and silencing the near 4000 Tribesmen in attendance.  Micheál Donoghue looked to his bench for answers and the introduction of fresh legs gave his side the impetus.  Of the five points they scored in three minutes to turn the tide, three came from the bench while two came from turnover ball in the Saffrons half back line.  It’s harsh to be critical after such a fine performance and ‘Woody’ told us it was more about what Galway did than what Antrim didn’t do in that time: “There were certainly more positives than negatives from the match, but it was disappointing to not seize the opportunity we created against the All-Ireland champions.

“It’s a cliché but it’s that 70 minute performance again.  We gave everything for 67 or 68 minutes and in that two or three minutes Galway capitalised and I suppose that’s a testament to them and that’s why they are champions.  They are the benchmark for everyone now, but we have set our own benchmark with the performance against them and it’s all about consistently doing that.”

Sunday’s match against Galway was played with such intensity, it was unsurprising to see the Saffrons trailing their bodies off the Pearse Stadium pitch.  They put their bodies on the line for the 70 minutes and Woody told us they are looking for more of the same this weekend: “I know a lot of the boys were hurting on Monday.  There was a lot of big hits went in during the match and there were some boys who felt like they had whiplash on Monday but a night at the pool on Monday had us good to go again.  There’s a great buzz about the camp right now and we’re eager to go out and put in a performance equal to if not better than we did last Sunday.  It’s trying to get that consistency and keep believing that we’re capable of competing with these teams.”

The pressure was off Antrim last weekend and this Sunday is certainly no different.  The Dubs might have suffered a surprise defeat against Offaly last Saturday evening in Croke Park, but they are still a force to be reckoned with.  They have as much talent as Galway and will provide just as difficult a task.  Antrim will have to produce another stirring performance to get anything from the tie but Woody is hoping that a large crowd behind them will drive them forward: “We’re treating this no different to the Galway match.  We’re looking to control what we can and concentrate on our preparation.  Preparation is nine 10ths of the law when it comes to these matches and it’s something that we can control.

“There’s no easy matches in 1B.  Dublin have shown in the past that they are a top side and they’ll be hurting after a defeat against Offaly.  I’ve only seen highlights of that match, but we know plenty about them and having played against them in the Walsh Cup already this year.  It’s another tough match but playing at home with the fans getting behind you can add another 10 or 15% to your performance and hopefully we can get our first points on the board.”Woody Og in action against Dublin in the Walsh Cup at Parnell Park.