By Brendan McTaggart
Two matches gone and two victories, four points and sitting pretty. Hands up who called this before a sliotar was thrown in at the start of the Joe McDonagh Cup? Didn’t think so. Before a sliotar was thrown in we were tipped for relegation but that’s now been put to bed and Antrim continue to grow from strength to strength.
On Saturday, the Saffrons produced a gutsy performance to stave the challenge of Carlow. Battered, beleaguered, bruised but winners. A sign that the hard yards have been put in not only on the field of play but in the backroom also. The Antrim management called for commitment from the players in the promise of committed performances. They produced that in spades on the pristine turf of Corrigan Park during 85 minutes (YES 85) of hurling warfare.
It wasn’t their most fluent performance of the year but they gritted it out and were deserving of the win. Along the sidelines it was passion either side from where I was stood. Along with colleagues from respective media outlets, we had Colm Bonnar the Carlow manager questioning every decision while urging his side to go through the gears while Woody and Pappy barked instructions running along the line. Sambo, cap and all, was more studious to start with but by the end he lived and breathed every poc. Then there was the ace in the Saffrons pack. Liam Sheedy. A recent conversation with the Tipperary native had me wanting to run through brick walls for a Saffron shirt and to see him at close quarters on Saturday afternoon was incredible. A small example of what we seen came about an hour into the match when Joe Maskey forced a turnover against the odds. Sheedy’s reaction was incredible. Leaping onto the pitch and fist pumping like a man possessed. For his possession is his passion. What was heartening from my conversation with Liam was it wasn’t just a front, he’s well versed in dealing with media and interviews and gave an extremely fluent interview but he backed up his words. This man lives and breathes hurling, we’ve all known that, but he’s putting his efforts into helping our team.
In our preview, he called for support. Antrim are in a midst of a hugely challenging run of fixtures that has already taken its toll on the squad. Eoghan Campbell will miss the Laois game for his dismissal on Saturday while Joe Maskey and Mickey Armstrong have casts on legs and arms respectively. Neil McManus has had treatment and stitches in the nether regions and it will be incredible if he makes the starting 15 in Pearse Park – although the Ruairi Og talisman has been deemed as doubtful, it would be superhuman to be back on the field of play just seven days after such an injury. Our role, our support is now more important than ever. Laois are coming on the back of a ten point defeat to the Kingdom on Sunday and their hopes of advancing in the Joe McDonagh Cup could hinge in one of the fields around Dunloy.
We need to make Pearse Park a cauldron of passion. Create an atmosphere that will drive Antrim to further heights. These men are doing everything they can on the field of play and as I walked off the Corrigan Park pitch on Saturday afternoon trying to decipher just what I had incredibly watched, I was left in no doubt. These are easily the most committed bunch of lads who are prepared to do whatever it takes to make Antrim competitive and successful. The least we can do is get behind them, out representing our county. They are our team. They aren’t a bunch of individuals from all parts of the county. They are OUR team. Colum Thompson recently called Antrim the homeless man, we might not have a place to call home right now but we have a team that we can be proud off and a team deserving of more from us.
As it currently stands, the match is to be played in Dunloy. Rumour has it this could change with Cushendall being muted. I’m happy either way. Right now, I’d travel the length and breadth of the country to watch Antrim regardless if I’m reporting on them or not. I hardly slept on Friday night while thinking on last Saturday’s game against Carlow. I’m hooked. As a fan, as a journalist, as a Saffron. To live through back to back performances like the ones I’ve witnessed in the space of seven days has been somewhat of a rarity as an Antrim hurling fanatic. Can Woody lead his charges to a third win on the bounce? I’m not going to make any bold predictions but I’m going to make a rallying call. On Saturday past the atmosphere in Corrigan Park was lacking until Carlow started to, for want of a better phrase, lose the plot. We need that atmosphere from the first whistle in Dunloy. It is possible. If anything it’s the only benefit of taking our county matches around the club grounds. Small pitches and grounds can make for more intense and incredible atmospheres. Pearse Park held championship matches in the recent past between Cushendall, St John’s, Ballycastle and Loughgiel that will love long in my memory. Hair raising, spine tingling championship fever at its absolute best. If you’re at a loose end on Saturday, get yourself down to Dunloy. Get the buses booked and the neighbours called. Get the messages out on Twitter and Facebook if you need a lift. If you have plans, it’s time to cancel them. This is our team and they need us. They have delivered on the pitch for us, now it’s time we returned the favour.
It seems incredible to think of it given the nature of his injury but Neil McManus hopes to play some part against Laois on Saturday. Pics by Dylan McIlwaine