Allianz NFL Division 3
Sunday 25th February
Markievicz Park-2-00pm
Antrim hope to get back to winning ways when they travel to Markievicz Park on Sunday to play Sligo but they face a difficult task against a Sligo side who have proved a tough opponent in the past.
Both sides have been going well in division 3 this year and recorded wins in their opening two game, (Antrim defeated Limerick and Offaly while Sligo beat Limerick and Wicklow) but both came unstuck at the weekend.
Antrim’s defeat came at the hands of neighbours Down at Corrigan Park on Sunday past where the visitors emerged with a fairly convincing victory over a youthful Saffron side.
Nine points separated the sides at the final whistle as Down finished strongly with an unanswered 1-5 after Mick Byrne had drawn Antrim level at 1-5 to 0-8, 15 minutes into the second half.
Meanwhile Sligo travelled to Clare where they lost by the minimum, 0-9 to 1-5 and will be aiming to get back on track when Antrim visit this Sunday.
Former All Ireland winner, Tony McEntee is the man again in charge of Sligo and the Crossmaglen man brings a wealth of experience to the post and led them to promotion from division 4 last year.
The sides last met at Sunday’s venue back in 2020 and it was Sligo who emerged victorious on that occasion on a 0-15 to 0-14 winning margin.
A year later Sligo travelled to Corrigan and it was Antrim who gained the upper hand on that occasion in a nail biting 3-13 to 3-12 win.
Paddy O’Connor top scored for Sligo with 0-6 that day at Markievicz Park and is still a prominent figure for the Connaught side while Devaney, Cummins, Lally and Kilcoyne all remain from that narrow win over Antrim.
Antrim have undergone massive changes in personnel since their last meeting with Sligo, many of them enforced through injury and with that injury list showing little sign of improving, manager Andy McEntee has given youth its chance with quite a bit of success.
Oisin Kerr, Patrick Gallagher, Ricky Johnston, Mark Gardiner, Niall Delargy, Colum Duffin, Conor Murray and Paddy Cunningham all started at Markievicz Park but have since retired while Peter Healey and James McAuley, who played that day, have joined Ryan Murray, Kevin Small, Stephen Beatty, Cathal Hynds and Ruairi McCann on a lengthy injured list.
Declan Lynch, Ruairi McCann (Creggan), Marc Jordan, Eunan Lynch, Patrick McBride and Dermot McAleese all saw action back in 2020 and they should be joined by Michael Byrne, Ronan Boyle, Kavan Keenan, Joseph Finnegan, Paddy McAleer, Colm McLarnon, Eoin Hynds, Niall Burns, Cormac McGettigan and Dominic McEnhill as Antrim’s class of 2024 aim to get back to winning ways.
Despite last week’s defeat, Antrim have performed admirably under the stewardship of Andy McEntee and are a team blessed with pace and attacking flare and play a good brand of football.
Sweeper-keeper, Mick Byrne has weighed in with some important scores this year and has made the goalkeeping jersey his own while returning pair, Paddy McAleer and Dermot McAleese have added much needed experience.
Benen Kelly, Ryan McQuillan, Declan Lynch, Pat Shivers and Oisin Doherty all saw some action from the bench against Down and will be hopingt for the nod when Andy McEntee announces his team but I don’t expect the Meath man to make too many changes from the side that started last week.
Much will depend on just how the new faces in the line-up will react to the Down defeat but I expect Antrim to put that defeat behind them and emerge with a narrow victory against a Sligo side who will go into Sunday’s clash with a similar mind-set.
Antrim v Sligo 2020: Oisin Kerr, Patrick Gallagher, Ricky Johnston, Mark Gardiner, Declan Lynch (0-01), James McAuley, Peter Healy, Ruairi McCann, Marc Jordan, Eunan Walsh, Patrick McBride, Niall Delargy, Patrick Cunningham (0-09, 6f), Colum Duffin (0-01), Conor Murray (0-02)
Antrim V Down 2024: M Byrne (0-2 frees); R Boyle, E Walsh, K Keenan; M Jordan, J Finnegan (0-1), D McAleese; C McLarnon, P McAleer (1-0); E Hynds, N Burns, R McCann; P McBride, C McGettigan, D McEnhill (0-3, 0-2 frees) Subs: B Kelly for C McGettigan (h/t), R McQuillan for N Burns (54), D Lynch for D McAleese (59), P Shivers for C McLarnon (64), O Doherty for E Hynds (68)