Allianz National Hurling League – Division 2A
The Antrim team to face Meath in Sunday’s National Hurling League Division 2A game in Trim shows just one change from the side who started last Saturday’s league opener with Kerry in Corrigan Park. With Nicky McKeague ruled out due to suspension and Simon McCrory still nursing a hamstring injury it was unlikely there would be much change in the line-up and so the nucleus of the side who have been together throughout the Kehoe Cup get another run together. Conor Boyd, who came on as a sub in Antrim’s last few games gets the call to take McKeague’s place at midfield.
Defeat in that Kerry game means it will be an uphill struggle for the Saffrons’ to gain promotion and if they are to achieve that goal then a win against the Royal county is a must on Sunday. However that will a much harder task than it sounds as Meath are also in need of a win after drawing their opening game with Mayo. Wins against Meath have been few and far between in recent years, though Antrim did run up a big score against them in their last meeting in the Joe McDonagh Cup last year in Navan. Sunday’s game has been switched to Trim, a venue where Antrim lost to their hosts in the opening game of the Walsh Cup just over twelve months ago. That win in Navan last May was one the best by Antrim in a long time, but the side who lined out that day, and the one who will contest Sunday’s game is vastly different, due to retirements, injuries and of course the involvement of Cushendall and St Enda’s in their All Ireland campaigns. If that sounds a bit too pessimistic it is not meant to be for the young men who have thrown in at the deep end over the past number of weeks have been excellent and deserve the highest of praise for their full blooded performances. County novices like Ronan Molloy, Phelim Duffin, Conor McHugh, Sean Duffin, Conor Boyd and Kevin Rice have all performed way above expectations and all of them should be proud of what they have achieved in such a short time. Sunday’s task will be tough, but if this team can perform as well as they have done up until now there is no reason why they can’t bring home the points on Sunday evening.
The Antrim team to play Meath is
1 Ryan Elliott
2 Stephen Rooney
3 John Dillon
4 Phelim Duffin
5 Ronan Molloy
6 Matthew Donnelly
7 Conor Mc Hugh
8 Sean Duffin
9 Conor Boyd
10 Nigel Elliott
11 Conor McCann
12 James Mc Naughton
13 Eoin O Neill
14 Keelan Molloy Keelan
15 Ciaran Clarke
16 (GK) Kurtis Mc Greevy
17 Conor Patterson
18 John Mc Goldrick
19 Conor Laverty
20 Donal Mc Kinley
21 Kevin Rice
22 Simon Mc Crory
23 Tomas O’Ciaran