Antrim v Sligo
NFL: Division 3
Corrigan Park – Sunday 2-00pm
Antrim face Sligo in Round 6 of the Allianz Football League Division 3 this Sunday, at Corrigan Park.
Going into Sunday’s game, Antrim sit in 6th place in Division 3 with 4 points from 5 games, while Sligo are in 7th place with 3 points, having secured 1 win, and 1 draw.
So the margins between them are minute and the outcome of this match is crucial for both teams as they fight to stave off the threat of relegation to division 4.
This is a massive game for both Antrim and Sligo. Both teams are dangerously close to the relegation zone. A loss here could be a huge setback, while a win would secure Antrim a place in division 3 next season and almost certainly condemn Sligo to the drop.
Antrim have home advantage for Sunday’s fixture but Sligo will be desperate to get something from the game. Expect a tense, hard-fought battle—neither team can afford to slip up at this stage so the Saffrons will need to be on top of their game.
Antrim will be without Marc Jordan for Sunday’s game and that’s a big blow for the Saffrons. Jordan has been a key player for them with his energy and ability to drive forward from deep. Without him, Antrim might struggle to break Sligo down or maintain their usual intensity.
Sligo will see this as an opportunity, but they haven’t been in great form themselves.
It’s a must win for both sides though a draw would possibly keep Antrim in contention to avoid the drop but they would have to beat Kildare away in their last game while hoping that Leitrim could get a first win against Sligo at Markievicz Park.
On the other hand, Sligo will see this as their best chance to stay up. If they get a result here, they’ll back themselves to beat Leitrim at home and secure safety.
It’s set up to be a real dogfight but Antrim have the ability and can handle the pressure to get the win to push them over the line and secure their place in division 3 for another season.
Antrim have won both of their games to date against Clare and Leitrim in Beklfast and went close against both Fermanagh and Laois away, leading in both games at one stage.
The Saffrons have shown they can compete, especially with those home wins. The fact that they ran both Fermanagh and Laois close away shows they’re not far off. It’s just about seeing games out and managing key moments better.
At home in Corrigan Park, they’ll fancy their chances, but without Marc Jordan, they’ll need others to step up. If they can start well and avoid lapses late on, they’ve got a real chance.
Sligo, though, will know that if they win, survival is firmly in their own hands with that home game against Leitrim to come. It’s a pressure game for both team with Antrim’s home form this season suggesting they may have the edge.
The introduction of Aghagallon’s Jack Lenehan to the Antrim defence for the last two games has been a plus while All Saints pair Kavan Keenan (if fit) and Conor Stewart are available for selection and the Antrim team is unlikely to show too many changes from the one who lost away to Laois last time out.
Jack Lenehan coming into the Antrim defence has been a plus. He’s added some solidity, and having a settled backline will be crucial in a must-win game like this.
Given their performance against Laois, Antrim may stick to a similar starting lineout. They were competitive in that game and led by six at one stage, and with home advantage this time, they’ll be hoping to turn a strong display into a vital win.
Sligo have struggled for most of the league but that win away to Clare last time out will have given them huge confidence. Despite a nervy conclusion – when they saw a seven-point lead whittled down to two – Sligo held on for their first win in this year’s Allianz Football League.
Winning on the road in a tough venue like Ennis shows they have fight in them, and now they’re just a point behind Antrim with everything still to play for.
Sligo had a good spread of scorers against Clare with Niall Murphy 0-5 Patrick O’Connor 0-3, Darragh Cummings, Luke Towey, David Quinn and Alan Reilly were amongst the point scorers in Ennis while their goal came from Canice Mulligan.
They were forced to hold on at the end as Clare came strong and indeed had a goal disallowed but this win will surely have boosted their confidence.
Paddy McBride, Niall Burns, Dominic McEnhill, Conor Hand, Ryan McQuillan and keeper, Mick Byrne have the ability to come up with the scores that will see Antrim retain their place in division 3 for next season
Antrim’s home advantage and recent performances suggest they have what it takes to get them over the line, but It could come down to small margins—who handles the pressure better, who takes their chances, and which team can manage the closing stages more effectively.
It’s shaping up to be a tense battle but it is a battle than Andy McEntee’s side can win and we call on Antrim fans to come out in numbers to cheer their side to victory.
