Allianz NFL Division 3
Antrim v Westmeath
Corrigan Park-2.00pm Sunday
The feel good factor that was created by Antrim wins over Limerick and Offaly on day one and two of the National Football League has abated somewhat following defeats to Down and Sligo in Round 3 and 4.
Those victories over Limerick in Rathkeale and Offaly, a week later at Corrigan Park left Antrim followers daring to believe that a shot at promotion to division 2 was very much on the cards.
Two weeks later Down travelled to Corrigan and the favourites for the division 3 title punched holes in those promotion dreams though Antrim matched them for a time before being blitzed by a late Down surge.
Colm McCabe has partnered Paddy McAleer at mid-field for Antrim in recent outings
Last week the Saffrons looked back on course when they led Sligo by a point at the halfway stage at Markievicz Park but were outscored 0-12 to 0-4 in the second half.
Suddenly those promotion dreams have been replaced with the need to secure division 3 survival and while Antrim sit four points ahead of the chasing pack of Offaly, Wicklow and Limerick, survival can’t be taken for granted.
Never the less Antrim look more than capable of making survival absolutely safe with another win in the three games left, securing their status for another season and with two of those games at Corrigan they still have an outside chance of getting back into the promotion race.
Sunday provides the first opportunity to get back to winning ways when Westmeath visit but it will take a big performance if they are to overcome the challenge of the Leinster side who sit at the top of the table with Down, both sides with 8 points from 4 games.
Eoin McCabe made a return to the Antrim side as a substitute against Sligo
Our recent results against Westmeath don’t inspire confidence with the Lake County coming from behind to beat Antrim at Sunday’s venue back in 2022 before inflicting a heavy defeat in Mullingar last year.
Andy McEntee’s Saffrons have proved that on their day they are a match for any side in the division as shown away to Limerick and at home to Offaly but they must produce their best for the full 70 plus minutes if they are to overcome the challenge of Dessie Dolan’s high flying Westmeath.
The Meath man’s selection options have been greatly curtailed by a long injury list that has shown little sign of easing and has deprived him of many of his more experienced campaigners.
Necessity has seen a host of young players given their opportunity this season and while recent results have been disappointing there has been much to feel positive about his new look side.
Mick Byrne has been excellent in goals and Ronan Boyle, Kavan Keenan, Dominic McEnhill, Cormac McGettigan, Colm McLarnon and Niall Burns have all shown promise and will only get better from playing at this level.
Aghagallon’s Ruairi McCann has been a bad miss for Antrim this year as he recovers from injury
Marc Jordan, Joe Finnegan, Paddy McAleer, Ruairi McCann (Creggan), Dermot McAleese, Declan Lynch and Paddy McBride, who was superb in the first half against Sligo, add a bit of experience to what is essentially an inexperienced side.
Eoghan McCabe is one of the long term injured who saw game time for the first time this season at Markievicz Park but just where Peter Healey, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), Cathal Hynes and other injured players are at in terms of recovery remains to be seen.
All Star nominee, Ronan O’Toole, Nigel Harte, Kieran Martin and Danny McCartan were to the fore as Westmeath defeated Limerick in Mullingar last Sunday but Antrim can take heart from the fact that only three points separated the sides in the end.
Hopefully we will have another big crowd to cheer on the Saffrons at Corrigan on Sunday and if we can get off to a good start and produce what we are capable of over the 70 minutes then we can gain the victory that would move us onto six points and dreaming of a promotion push instead of looking nervously over our shoulders at the chasing pack.
Antrim stand for the National Anthem in Mullingar