Under 20 Hurling – Leinster Hurling Qualifier
Antrim v Down at Dunsilly @ 8pm
Antrim Under 20 hurlers play their biggest game of the season so far tonight (Friday) at Dunsilly when they take on old rivals Down in what promises to be an intriguing contest. Paudie Shivers and his management team have worked hard with this team since last November, and have played a series of challenge games, mostly against Leinster opposition, with challenge games against the likes of Westmeath and Dublin. After a shaky start, where they lost out to Ulster University and Donegal seniors in the QUB tournament, the McGurk Cup, the young Saffrons put in a few impressive displays in their own age group, beating Dublin at Jordanstown the definite highlight.
When Saffron Gael spoke to team manager Paudie Shivers he filled us in on what the team had been doing since that Dublin game.
“It has been a couple of weeks since our last game which has allowed us to get some good work done on the training field and the players are very much looking forward to the game on Friday night.
There is never much between Down & Antrim at any level and this current crop of players in Down certainly have the upper hand over our lads this year and the quality on show in the Mageean Final back in December was very impressive. “
The Dunloy man, (who is joined in the management set-up by Cushendall’s Arron Graffin, Rossa’s Sean McManus and Gooch Gillan of Loughgiel) went on to add “That being said, when we got together at the start of the season, we spoke about the importance of reflecting on where Antrim U20 Hurling was, why it was in this position and how we were going to set about raising our standards.
So in each game we have very much focused on ourselves and our own performance all year and that won’t change going into the game on Friday.”
There is a historic note to tonight’s game by the way as it will be the first competitive hurling game played under the new Dunsillly floodlights and with that traditional Antrim v Down rivalry adding to the occasion, it is one worth watching. Throw-in at at 8pm
