Leo Murphy Cup
Antrim v Cavan (1-00 pm)
Antrim head into Saturday’s Leo Murphy Cup meeting with Cavan at Glenavy in buoyant mood following last weekend’s victory over Louth in Ardee and a draw with Derry the previous Wednesday night that could and probably should have been a win. The Leo Murphy Cup is the under 20 development competition named after the great Down full back and twice All-Ireland winner of the 1960’s.
This Saturday they face potentially their stiffest test to date when they face unbeaten Cavan at St. Joseph’s Chapel Hill venue but it is a game that Hugh McGettigan’s side will relish and approach with confidence following their performances in their previous two outings.
Eight points separated Antrim and Louth in Ardee while Cavan had 18 to spare over the same opposition but there was a general consensus in the Louth camp that their performance against the Saffrons was a marked improvement on that game.
Antrim 4-18 Louth 3-13
Antrim under 20 footballers had a fine win over the Wee County in the group stages of the Leo Murphy Development Cup. The game was played in the wonderful setting of Ardee and the home club St Mary’s must take great credit for having the pitch in pristine condition for last weekend’s game; it surely must rank as one of the top playing surfaces in the country .
The Antrim lads settled quickest with Dermot McErlaine slotting over a 45 and then Pat Shivers, the Cargin minor scored his first of 3 frees, followed by a super goal by one of the five Aghagallon starters Adam Loughran . However Louth moved up a gear and by the 20th minute they were back on level terms after Keelan ONeill found the Antrim net leaving the score at 1-4 each, but from there to the break Antrim took over and led by 5 at half time. The game could have been out of reach for the Lenister lads but for the efforts of young Cillian Rice the Louth netminder who pulled off a number of outstanding saves to keep his county in contention .
Louth returned after the break with a renewed vigour and with the wind at their back Pearse Hawkins, Fergal Malone and Ben McKenna caused problems to Antrim around the pitch. Again Antrim rallied and with Ryan Convery, Jamie Lamont , Ciaran O’Neill, John toner and Cormac McGettigan driving the team forward the game went into over drive. Antrim scored a brace of goals in the 20th and 21st minute with firstly Mark McAfee punching home after good work from Aaron McNeilly and then Rory Brolly finding the net after great outfield play.
But Louth were not to be outdone and with both attacks on top they added some excellent scores with local lad Conor Gillespie at full forward, scoring from every angle and making his home field knowledge count . Once again man of the match Cillian Rice was to the fore and his outstanding performance meant the Saffrons couldn’t relax until the final whistle.
CAVAN HAVE IMPRESSED
Cavan continued to impress when they pipped a Derry side missing Ben McCandless by the minimum at Owen Beg so there might not be much between the sides and with Cavan playing their Ulster Championship semi-final replay against Armagh on Sunday they are unlikely to risk any of their senior panellists.
Antrim manager, Hugh McGettigan has been delighted with his side’s performances to date but offers a word of caution going into the Cavan game. He states “Antrim play a highly rated Cavan team in the Leo Murphy Cup. The winners of Saturdays under 20 game will face Down one of the favourites for the Ulster title in the final.
This is Antrim’s third outing in the competition and although they have performed well in their two outings preparations have been hampered by the large amount of players in the squad still studying for exams.
This group of players have been together for a number of years and 2 years ago they beat Donegal in an epic game in Ballybofey before going out to Derry in the Ulster semi -final.
We know Cavan were All-Ireland semi -finalists two years ago going down narrowly to a David Clifford inspired Kerry squad. So this game will give us a marker for the rest of the season”
Cavan destroyed Louth by 18 points in their first game and went onto defeat an excellent Derry team on Saturday last and they have some players who are already household names including Cian Madden,Tiarnan Reilly and James Smith from Crosserlough .
A win for Antrim would put them into the final of the Leo Murphy Cup against Down while a draw would be sufficient to send the Breffni men through so there is plenty for both sides to play for.
In what is a big weekend for Antrim Gaels with the senior hurlers facing Westmeath in an important game in Dunloy and the senior footballers facing Louth in Droheda in the qualifiers at 7.00 we appeal to all Gaels in the county to go along and support the respective sides. Judging by interest on the Saffron Gael website there should be a good crowd at Glenavy and we appeal to Antrim Gaels to go along and get behind their side
Antrim under 20s are the first team out of the blocks this weekend in what is turning out to be a important weekend in all codes for the Saffrons .