There is still an air of uncertainty about the fixture but if everything goes ahead this weekend two old soldiers will be back on the sideline together when Antrim camogs take on Laois in Division 2 of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois.
Its sixteen years since Paul ‘Humpy’ McKillen and Jim ‘Jingo’ McKernan were last together with an Antrim team, leading the senior hurlers to Christy Ring, Ulster Championship and Division 2 League honours before controversially being ask to step aside. They have remained firm friends ever since and when Paul’s daughter Selina got married just before Christmas Jim and his wife Kate were two of the first names on the guest list.
A few weeks after the wedding Humpy was approached by County Camogie chairman Vincent Boyle to if he would take charge of the Antrim Senior Camogs this season. The time of the wedding the former All Star had been telling everyone he was going to take a break this season, after having been involved with Rasharkin hurlers of the past couple of years. However when the call came the hurler and competitor in him couldn’t say no and after thinking about it for a few days he gave Jingo a call and the old team were back in the saddle again. Elaine Dowds was also approached but she had commitments for the early part of the season but the lads are hopeful she will be able to come on board when the championship starts later in the season.
When I spoke to Paul about how things were going so far he was full of enthusiasm saying that he and Jingo were happy with the commitment the girls have given so far. There have been a few of last year’s panel stepped aside but overall they have a squad of 22 committed to the cause and the boys are not ruling out a few others joining the group as the season progresses.
They have played a couple of challenge games and while it is not always the best way to judge, the girls have done very well with wins over Down and Slaughtneil and according to Humpy the spirit in the camp is good. When the league fixtures came out they were down to play Laois in this weekend’s opener. There was a bit of uncertainty over whether the O’Moore county girls were going to field a team but last week it was confirmed they had their squad together and it was all systems go.
Humpy and Jingo are raring to go and have named their team for the opening fixture in Abbeyleix. It will be tough going as it always is again any of the Laois teams but the boys are hoping they can get away to a good start.
Antrim likely line-up for Sunday is –
Antrim v Laois
1 – Emir Boyle (Loughgiel)
2 – Laoisa McKenna (Glenravel)
3 – Chloe Drain (Dunloy)
4 – Maria Lynn (Loughgiel)
5 – Naimh Donnelly (Ballycastle)
6 – Maeve Connolly (Loughgiel)
7 – Roisin Kelly (Portglenone)
8 – Amy Boyle (Loughgiel)
9 – Emma Laverty (Loughgiel)
10 – Maeve Kelly (Ballycastle)
11 – Anna Connolly (Loughgiel)
12 – Lucia McNaughton (Loughgiel)
13 – Roisin McCormick (Loughgiel)
14 – Katie Carey (Portglenone)
15 – Christine Laverty (Loughgiel)
Subs – Clare McKillop, Caoimhe Duffin , Emily Faloona, Aine Donnelly, Eilis Cairns, Aine Donnelly, Ciara Dobbin