As Antrim take on Westmeath in Mullingar later today it is hard to get your head around the massive changes in the team’s structure since their last visit there just over nine months ago. The Saffrons travelled to Cussack Park that day needing a win to maintain their place in the Leinster Championship in 2024 and gave their best display of the season to win by 4-24 to 1-19, a joyous day for all Saffron followers.

The team who will take the field today in Mullingar will have just six of the side that beat the men from the Lake County that day. The reasons for such extensive changes are many, but injuries to a series of players is the main reason. The decision of six of the Dunloy boys to take a step back for a while, after their hectic schedule in club and county hurling, plus club football, was a major factor, the retirement of Neil McManus, Domnhal Nugent and Conor Johnston is another, but injuries makes up the biggest section of the absentees.

The Antrim team who played Westmeath in Mullingar in the Leinster Championship in 2023 was

Ryan Elliott; Paddy Burke, Ryan McGarry, Niall O’Connor; Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; James McNaughton, Michael Bradley; Keelan Molloy, Niall McKenna, Conor Johnston; Conal Cunning, Neil McManus, Seaan Elliott

Subs: Daniel McKernan for C Bohill (11); E O’Neill for C Johnston (61); Rian McMullan for N McManus (70); Joe Maskey for N McKenna (70+2); Domhnall Nugent for C Cunning (70+3)

Today’s team to face the Lake County in Mullingar

The one factor in Antrim’s favour as they seek their first win of the season is that there is no relegation from the top two divisions this season and come what may they will be playing their hurling next season in Division 1B, which in effect is the second tier of National League hurling.

They face a tough task today against a Westmeath side, who although still pointless like Antrim, have ran to sides like Limerick and Tipperary close in this campaign. Today’s team sees Loughgiel’s Enda Og McGarry and Creggan’s Conor McCann come in for Aodhan O’Brien of Rossa, who joins the injury list, and Joseph McLaughlin of Cushendall who line out for the Under 20 team against Derry in the Ulster Under 20 Hurling Cup at Dunsilly. Five other players who were part of the panel against Galway last time out are also in action with Paudie Shivers Under 20 team, which makes you wonder about the timing of the two games.