The trip to Croke didn’t quite go as planned on Sunday but when the bitter pill of disappointment fades, I and I would suspect a lot of Antrim Gaels will look back on this season with fondness.
When Andy McEntee took over the Antrim reins at the start of 2023 he inherited a team who had progressed under former manager, Enda McGinley but was in need of surgery.
Quite a number of the senior players, who have served Antrim so magnificently over the last decade had called time on their county careers. Michael and Thomas McCann, James Laverty, Conor Murray, Ricky Johnston and Martin Johnston and Paddy Cunningham were just some of the household names who had left the scene and none of these players owe Antrim anything as they have given their all in the Saffron jersey.
McEntee has rang the changes and has not been afraid to give youth its chance and after a shaky start his side has shown steady progress and the great run in this year’s Tailteann Cup has been proof of that progress.
Wins over Leitrim, Wexford, Fermanagh and Carlow on the way to Sunday’s semi-final in Croke Park has shown just how far we have come under the Meath man and while there is still a way to go, I believe we are on the right path.
I was very proud of our county on Sunday as they went toe to toe with a Meath team who have been lauded as firm favourites, not only for Sunday but for the competition itself (Down may have something to say about that).
Big games are often decided on small margins and Antrim will look back on a number of missed scoring opportunities throughout the hour and indeed on the opening 20 minutes of the second half when they lost their way.
However the manner of their finish when they had Meath on the rack and the roar from the big Antrim support who travelled to Croke will live long in the memory as I look forward to next season.
My complements to the Antrim management and players. They have given me a lot of pleasure and, a few disappointing days this year and I look forward to following them again in 2024.
Meanwhile its back to the league and championship in Antrim with a number of big games on the agenda this week where the winners of division 2 will be decided on Wednesday night and the battle for division 1 survival continues at pace. For now I bring you some photographs from Sunday at headquarters and I hope you enjoy them as we get back to our club rivalries
