Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor shield final

Sunday 2.30pm in UPMC Nolan Park: Antrim v Limerick

 Antrim Minor Camogs have benefitted from the change in structure to this year’s championship and playing teams of similar stature to themselves had done them the world of good as they go into Sunday’s All Ireland final against Limerick at Nowlan Park.  

Their last game against Meath in Armoy, was a bit one sided at times and the Saffron’s dominant start which blew the opposition out of the water in the first half. However Meath had a spell of dominance in the second period and for a spell had Antrim worried as they closed the gap dramatically and it will act as a lesson for Saffrons that nothing can be taken for granted.

Antrim manager John McArthur puts his team through their paces as they prepare for Sunday’s All Ireland final against Limerick

In fact each of their group games have been competitive in this campaign, and the progress they have made as the championship progressed had been clear to see.

They struggled to beat Derry in the Ulster final and when they lost the opening round to Clare by five points, things did look too bright.  However they quickly got back on track with a 1-10 to 0-4 away victory to Offaly in Banagher, and they followed that up with wins against Wexford, Limerick and Meath to secure a semi-final place.

Two weeks ago they booked their place in the final when they beat Wexford when a dominant second half saw them win well with goals from Mary McArthur (two), Eobha McAllister and Orlaith McAlister.

The selection of Nowlan Park as a venue did not go down too well with a lot of Antrim fans, but team manager John McArthur doesn’t want to allow the negatives to impact on the preparations.

“The game is on a good pitch and we will go there to win,” he said earlier this week after a training session in Dunloy.

“We beat Limerick in the group stages and I felt then that they were the best team we had met. I wasn’t surprised that they beat Clare. I felt that they would. We produced a good performance to beat them, but I think we will have to be even better in the final.”

The team line out on Sunday should be along the same lines as the tone that beat Meath a few weeks ago. The team is packed with talent, especially in the forward line and McArthur feels they have the power to overcome Limerick for a second time. However nothing can be taken for granted and it would be wrong to assume that because they have already beaten them already this season, that it should happen again.

With just six teams graded for the minor A Cup final, victory for Antrim in this Shield final would place the county at its highest standing in under age Camogie for quite some time. They will travel with confidence but it will not be easy.

Earlier this week the Saffron Gael dropped in on one of the Saffron’s training session in Dunloy to grab a few pics of the teams’ final preparations.