Nigel Elliott scores Antrim’s second goal against Laois in Portlaoise three weeks ago. The Antrim fans will be hoping the Dunloy man can repeat the dose in Sunday’s crucila relegation play-off at Pearse Park. Pic by John McIlwaine
Allianz National League Division 1b – Sunday March 18
Relegation Play-Off
Antrim v Laois at Pearse Park, Dunloy
Throw In: 2pm
By Brendan McTaggart
And so it comes down to 70 minutes in Pearse Park on Sunday afternoon. After a chastening return to Divison 1b, Antrim are faced with a play-off against familiar foes Laois. Some will say that the Saffrons were destined to find themselves in this fixture from the start of the season but a closer look into Antrim’s National League campaign would suggest that with a bit more luck and rub of the green, the Saffrons could have been looking at a quarter-final place.
Outstanding but ultimately losing performances against Galway and Dublin were followed by a disappointing result in the midlands against the O’Moore County under the floodlights while Limerick came up and put on a show in Cushendall. A ‘dead rubber’ it may have been against Offaly last Sunday but the Saffrons were back to the form they showed at the beginning of the campaign against the Faithful County. A three point victory and a boost to the squad. A shot of adrenaline. Two points. It may have meant little in terms of league positioning but it was a massive two points for Antrim hurling. It was two points they deserved, two points that very few in the county and Ireland gave them a prayer of getting. Two points to show improvement and steps of going in the right direction. Sunday presents another chance. Its last chance saloon though with winner takes all in Dunloy against Laois.
The last time the two sides met, Laois took the spoils with five points to spare. It was a night to forget for the Saffrons where they underperformed while Laois were clinical. A master class from Ross King punished the Saffrons for any indiscretions and while Antrim found the net with goals from Nigel Elliott and Eoghan Campbell, the midlanders knocked over 27 points, 16 from placed ball. A performance where Antrim looked like they never really got started yet they came close to taking the points and but for some uncharacteristic wide’s and a late rally in search for goals with frees dropping short, that five point deficit would have been closer. If only we all had the benefit of hindsight.
Last day out, Dunloy man Nigel Elliott grabbed the match sealing score by scoring a trademark goal at the death. The Antrim forward was in sensational form for his club during last year’s championship and has shown glimpses of continuing that same form into a Saffron shirt. Elliott told us that he and his team mates are itching to set the record straight on Sunday: “There’s no doubt about it, we all know we hugely underperformed that night against Laois. I don’t know whether we couldn’t get into the same mind-set as we were against Galway and Dublin but something just wasn’t right on the night. Mentally we didn’t get it right but we know that if we prepare and play to the ability that we’ve shown, we can stay in the Division.”
That is and always has been the ultimate end game for Antrim in this league campaign. They worked their socks off in the two years they were in Division 2a and to make an immediate return would be a bitter pill to swallow. Elliott told us that they are clear in their minds on the goal coming into Sunday’s make or break fixture: “You want to be playing against the best there is. It’s been great pitting ourselves against the Limerick’s, Dublin’s and Galway’s and we want that again next year.” Elliott continued: “We’ve shown at different times this year that when we’re on our game we can be a match for anyone. Last Sunday was a good performance against a good side and it felt like it was a reward for the efforts we’ve put in to getting this far.
“The Limerick game was a bit of an eye opener but we didn’t dwell on the result that much. We’re keen to keep the positive atmosphere that there is around the camp so the Offaly match was about getting things right again. Giving people the chance to nail down a place against Laois but it was good to finish off the league campaign with a win and hopefully we can use the belief that win gives us going into Sunday’s match.”
Antrim have played Laois countless times in recent years. More often than not, the O’Moore County have come out on the right side of the result unfortunately for the Saffrons but there is never too much between the teams and the last time they played in Antrim it was the same outcome. It’s a trend Antrim are keen to change and Elliott is under no illusions what it will take on Sunday: “It’s going to be a dog fight. We know it and they probably know it to. We want to put right our performance against them earlier in the league but we’re not getting too hung up on that. We’re hoping for a big crowd at the ground on Sunday to get behind us. We need the crowd to be on our side and create that big match championship atmosphere. Every one of the lads want to go out and empty the tank on Sunday and make sure that we’re playing in 1b next season.”
The Saffrons have no fresh injury worries and are expected to be dealing with a full squad on Sunday. They will be without the expertise of Dominic McKinley along the side line however, Woody has a commitment with Slaughtneil camogs as they look to defend their All-Ireland crown. Can Antrim do the business on Sunday? Home advantage could prove to be a major factor and one the Saffrons should relish. Sunday is their Final and here’s hoping they get the rewards their efforts have deserved in 2018.
It will be a trying day for Dominic McKinley on Sunday. He will be in Croke Park with the Slaughtneil camogs as they defend their All Ireland title, but he will be watching proceedings in Pearse Park, Dunloy where his son Conor captains Antrim hurlers in a crucial relegation play-off against Laois. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine