Kehoe Cup final – Antrim v Westmeath at Abbotstown

Getting another game under their belts in the lead up to the start of the league was Neal Peden’s main reaction after winning last week’s Kehoe Cup semi-final with Kildare at Abbotstown. “Look were are going to get another really competitive game, that’s what we come here for so were are really pleased” was the Antrim manager’s reaction after last week’s win over the Lillywhites. “Our first half effort today was phenomenal, against that breeze we worked so hard and our energy level was high and we can see things were working for us that we did in training. OK we lost our way a bit in the middle of the second half but after James McNaughton’s goal we really kicked on again”

It is fair to say that Peden and his fellow managers didn’t set out at the start of the season with winning the Kehoe Cup in mind, and if they lose out to Westmeath tomorrow (Saturday) there will be no tears shed. The whole thing about pre-season competitions is geared towards the start of the league, and with Kerry visiting Cushendall on Saturday week, a competitive clash against a side like Westmeath could not have come at a better time.

Westmeath have showed well under new manager Tommy Quaid and in last week’s semi-final had too much in the tank for neighbours Meath, winning by twelve points in the end on a 1-15 to 1-13 scoreline, the goal coming from corner forward Killian Doyle.

The Leinster men have always proved tough opponents for Antrim over the years and have held the upper hand in the vast majority of our meetings. The have a tough physical team, full of good hurlers who will be anxious to get their hands on some silverware under their new manager. Antrim play them again in the league in Cushendall in a few weeks’ time and it is safe to say that the outcome of that game will be more on the minds of both management teams. However when the teams take it the field at Abbotstown tomorrow the competitive instincts will naturally kick in and is should be a game worth seeing. Antrim should line-out much the same as they did against Kildare and with the league opener just a week away the management team will be keen to get as near their full strength team as possible. They are of course still short of the Cushendall contingent, but they have progressed well so far and tomorrow’s game will be another good chance to chart their progression.

ANTRIM’S SEMI-FINAL SQUAD V KILDARE

Ryan Elliot; Stephen Rooney, John Dillon, Phelim Duffin; Ronan Molly, Simon McCrory, Matthew Donnelly; Conor McCann, James O’Connell; Nigel Elliot, James McNaughton, Nicky McKeague; Conor McHugh, Keelan Molloy, Ciaran Clarke. Subs: Kevin Rice, Donal McKinley, Conor Boyd, Conor Patterson, John McGoldrick, Conor Laverty.

WESTMEATH’S SEMI-FINAL SQUAD

Paddy Carroll, Darragh Eggerton, Tommy Doyle, Naoise McKenna, John Bermingham, Aaron Craig, Gary Greville Raharney, Robbie Greville, Shane Power, Joey Boyle, Conor Shaw, Allan Devine, Killian Doyle Raharney, Niall Mitchell, Darragh Clinton 

16 Conor Lynch, Jack Galvin, Robbie Gillen, John Gilligan, Shane McGovern, Kevin Regan, Darragh, Philip Reilly, Barry O’Mara,  Emmett Corrigan, Shane Clavin