National Hurling League – Division 1b
Antrim v Clare
Sunday 1 September
Throw in: 1pm
Venue: Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Cushendall
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Antrim’s league match against Clare on Sunday in Cushendall.
So the national hurling league got underway last weekend, it was a fairly sedate opening, wasn’t it? Tongue pressed firmly in cheek after what was one of the greatest robberies in the great game of hurling’s history at Wexford Park.
A debatable free, transgressions from players on both sides, a questionable decision to bring the sliotar forward….twice and just to top it all off, a query over the sliotar size used by Wexford ‘keeper Mark Fanning. It all resulted in the Slaneysiders dealing a hammer blow in the 7th (SEVENTH) minute of additional time, going into the eighth.
Why is the time relevant? Referee Thomas Walsh originally gave five and while there was a delay before Fanning struck his free, to blow the game upon Domhnall Nugent’s restart was farcical. Frustration? Absolutely. All the players used throughout the match played their role to perfection on an evening that made a mockery of Wexford being monikered the Sunny South East. More like the Windy Rain Drenched Corner.
But, let’s look at the positives and there are plenty of them. Defensively, Antrim were immense. The organization and intensity in the tackle gave the home side neither time nor room in possession. When I spoke with Seoirse Bulfin prior to the opener, he said that they’d been doing a lot of work on that side of the game while Davy Fitzgerald is famed for wanting his sides to go out and produce these types of performances.
I was hugely impressed with Naomh Eanna native, Joe Maskey on the day. A strong first half was matched with a second half where Wexford players were hanging off him. Joe’s built for occasions like these and he produced the goods in spades while Ryan McCambridge gave his best performance in a saffron jersey for a long time.
Up top, it was a tough day for the forwards. You might look at the tally of 1-6 from open play and wonder what’s going on but the elements were horrible, the underfoot conditions were less than favorable (to say the least) but there were enough moments to show that the attacking talents can produce.
It was great to see Conal Cunning back to full fitness. Playing with 14 on his back, ‘Coby’ covered every blade of grass in Wexford Park in a captains performance while Seaan Elliott, substitutes Cormac McKeown and Joseph McLaughlin all looked sharp.
This Sunday sees us welcome the Banner to town, Cushendall town that is. A change of venue from a game originally scheduled for Dunloy sees Clare travel to the heart of the Glens. Given we’re deep into a monsoon season that could easily be looked upon as unseasonable, I think this is the right call. Outside of Corrigan Park, Cushendall’s pitch is probably the best surface in the county and well able to deal with the inclement weather we’re experiencing.
Thoughts track back to the last time Brian Lohan brought his Clare team to our doorstep and that infamous game in Corrigan Park back in 2021, Antrim’s first match back in Division 1. From that starting 15 and subs used however, Antrim will be missing ten players between suspension, retirements and some unable to commit while Domhnall Nugent was an outfield sub for the last 15 minutes of the game. It’s changed times but times that bring opportunity for the next wave of talent coming through.
After receiving a straight red card, Gerard Walsh will miss Sunday’s game but Niall O’Connor will return from his suspension while it’s better news with Keelan Molloy who is reported to feature.
The Banner made a winning start last Sunday with a 3-18 to 1-22 win over Dublin in Ennis with Tony Kelly pulling the strings along with David Reidy, Peter Duggan while Mark Rodgers was accurate from placed ball. It took a goal in additional time from Kelly to get his side over the line and recorded Clare’s first home league win in a staggering 22 months.
Sunday will be Davy Fitzgerald’s first time coming up against his home county as Antrim manager and you know he’ll relish the opportunity to come up against a Brian Lohan side. Twice they climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand together in the first Sunday in September to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup (1995 and 1997) and while Pairc Naoimh Mhuire will paint an entirely different picture for those attending, Antrim love the prospect of one of the ‘big dogs’ coming to town.
Five years ago it took the brilliance of Ciaran Clarke and Neill McManus to get us over the line against the Banner, the stage is set for someone else to write their names in Saffron history.
