Ulster GAA Football Championship preview
Quarter-Final
Down vs Antrim
Venue: Páirc Esler, Newry
Saturday May 26
Throw in: 7pm
By Brendan McTaggart
It’s the game every saffron gael in the county with a footballing heart has been waiting on. If you think we’re talking about the Champions League final you can think again. The Ulster football championship is well underway with Donegal having accounted for Cavan in the preliminary round and Fermanagh recorded a dogged win against fancied Armagh while Monaghan and the brilliant Conor McManus saw off the reigning Anglo-Celt holders, Tyrone. On Saturday evening, Lenny Harbinson takes his troops to Newry as they begin their championship against last years beaten Ulster finalists, Down.
Antrim successes in the Anglo-Celt have been few and far between in recent times, we have to go back to 2014 and that infamous encounter in Brewster Park for our last win, a goal line clearance from the now Captain Kevin O’Boyle ensuring we held on for a one point victory. After what feels like a plethora of matches against the Erne men since, a humbling defeat to Donegal last year in the quarter-finals led to a six point defeat in Markievicz Park against Sligo to end Antrim’s championship by mid-June.
When the draw was made for the championship, there was a feel of, ‘it was a cert to happen.’ After his departure from the Antrim management team, Eamon Burns wasted no time in drafting St John’s clubman Gearóid Adams into his coaching set-up. The irony hasn’t been lost within the county and gives Saturday’s match another edge.
Despite being condemned to another year in Division Four of the National Football League, there’s an air of optimism in the Saffron camp coming into the weekend. Underdogs they may be, but we caught up with Niall Delargy, Paddy McBride and firstly captain Kevin O’Boyle at the recent media event held in Tír na nÓg.
Paddy McBride
Saffron Gael: The league was a disappointment. You don’t need me to tell you that and I’m sure you as players were as gutted about that as us, the fans?
Paddy McBride: It was a disappointment. At the start of the year we had high hopes of getting out of Division Four and then we would look at the Championship after that. We were annoyed that we didn’t achieve that goal and we didn’t get promotion but that’s long gone from our minds now. At this time of year the disappointment is soon forgotten about. It’s something to look at once the championship is over and ahead of next year.
SG: During the league you were one of the best performers, how would you assess your own performances?
PMcB: I came onto the panel in late 2011 so 2012 would have been my first championship season. I think I’ve improved each year but county football can take a while to adapt to. I think you can mature quicker playing club football but I feel like I’ve learned a lot playing in an Antrim shirt and I think I’m playing better than I ever have right now. I like to think that I’m going to continue to improve as so far, every year has been a learning curve.
SG: Motivation will hardly be a factor on Saturday evening with a derby match in the Ulster championship?
PMcB: It’s hard not to get motivated for the championship. That disappointment and especially how it transpired, Laois just about beating Carlow, it was hard to take but now knowing the Championship is just around the corner, at the end of the day it’s these matches that we want to be playing in. Championship football is why we play the game.
SG: I suppose you’ve been asking for favours from Gearóid considering he’s your brother-in-law?
PMcB: No chance. We don’t really talk about it either to be honest. He’s taking St John’s this year as well so all talk between us has been surrounding the club. We’ve had we jokes about the match but at the end of the day, it’s a job of sorts. We have a job to win for Antrim while he’s focussed on Down. It will be good craic, there’s been plenty of banter at training with me and Fitzy and him but when it comes to the match, it’s all forgotten about.
SG: So what’s your feelings ahead of the match? It’s going to be a big ask….
PMcB: Down’s a game that yes, we’ll be underdogs. Lets be honest, Down reached the Ulster final last year so we deserve to be underdogs. We haven’t done anything on the pitch that would give us the favourites tag at all but I like the underdog feeling. We have nothing to lose and we almost have a free rein to go at them. We’re optimistic and looking forward to it. 
