NFL Division 4 Antrim v Wicklow

Portglenone -5pm Saturday

Antrim’s excellent win in Carrick on Shannon last Sunday will hopefully injected some life into a season that, up until that point had been poor in the extreme for Mark Doran’s side.

Defeat to Carlow and Longford in Portglenone and away to Tipperary in their opening three games had all but put paid to Antrim’s promotion hopes and the visit to MacDiarmada Park looked like another difficult day for the Saffrons.

Leitrim had opened the season brightly with two wins from three starts and their only defeat came at the hands of Antrim’s opponents on Saturday evening, Wicklow and a win here would have put them right into the promotion race.

The Antrim management rang the changes for the Leitrim game however with St. Brigid’s Ronan Boyle coming into the side at centre half back and Dunloy’s Tomas McFerran partnering Paddy McAleer at mid-field.

Pat Shivers moved outfield to the ‘40’ where he was partnered by Conor Hand and Eunan Walsh on either side.

With the wind and rain at their backs in Carrick on Shannon the Saffrons raced into a 1-12 to 1-3 lead, despite kicking seven early wides.

Hand struck Antrim’s first half goal and with Dominic McEnhill in sparkling form they were 12 ahead before a late Paul Honeyford goal for the hosts gave Leitrim a glimmer of hope going into the second half.

There would be no let up from Antrim as they added the opening five points of the second half and while Leitrim did do better in the second period, they never really looked like closing the gap.

Keeper, John McNabb kicked five points for the Saffrons with Dominic McEnhill contributing 0-8 and Paddy McAleer 1-1 from mid-field in an encouraging performance where Antrim had 8 different scorers on the day.

Meanwhile Wicklow have been amongst the pace setters for promotion from division 4 with three wins from four starts, their only defeat to date coming against league leaders, Carlow.

There latest win came against London last day out with a commanding16-point win over the Exiles in Aughrim on Sunday afternoon, delivering their most impressive performance of the campaign to date. 

Wicklow’s forwards were on song showcasing attacking flair, defensive discipline, and ruthless efficiency in front of goal.

The result moves Wicklow onto six points, leaving them second in the league table, just two points adrift of unbeaten pace-setters Carlow.

Kevin Quinn led the Wicklow charge with 1-4 with Eoin Darcy in influential form and the ever-reliable Mark Jackson made a significant impact from between the posts, as well as weighing in with six points, including three two-pointers, highlighting Wicklow’s growing confidence in the new scoring system.

Speaking after the final whistle, manager Oisín McConville praised his side’s work rate, intensity, and clinical edge, highlighting the maturity and confidence now evident in their performances.

With momentum firmly on their side, Wicklow will now look ahead with renewed belief as the battle for promotion continues, knowing that destiny remains firmly in their own hands.

Antrim will have concern about the margin of Wicklow’s win over London but will note that only a point separated them and Leitrim when they met in Aughrim earlier in the campaign.

Was Antrim’s high octane victory on Carrick on Shannon a one of or was it the start of a run that may not get them into the promotion race but could come as a big boost for the forthcoming Ulster championship or another run in the Tailteann Cup?

Joe Finnegan’s late Red card in Carrick on Shannon will see the full-back miss the Wicklow game and will see another shuffle in the Antrim defence.

Who will come in to replace him remains to be seen with Eunan Walsh possibly dropping back from attack to take up the position he regularly occupied last year.

Whatever side Mark Doran and his selectors decide on, if Antrim can produce the level of performance they reached against Leitrim last week then they look capable of giving high flying Wicklow a real run for their money