Joe McDonagh Cup – Round One
Antrim v Down
Saturday 18 April at Pearse Park, Dunloy – Throw in: 1:30pm
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
Antrim begin their McDonagh Cup campaign on Saturday afternoon against, as fate would have it, Down in Pearse Park, Dunloy. After the rollercoaster ride that was the National League campaign and that game in Pairc Esler, the hurling Gods have looked upon Antrim favorably with the schedule and paired us up against our neighbours on the opening weekend.
On the ‘We Are Antrim’ podcast, I said it was the perfect time for Antrim to face Down again. I stand by that. It’ll be four weeks since that last gasp Donal Hughes goal denied Antrim in the Marshes and despite plenty of groundwork done since, you have to think that game will be fresh in the memories of the Saffrons. There was an overriding emotion of hurt and a savage disappointment coming away from that game that can only be a good thing. If there was motivation needed, they don’t need to look much further.
Antrim will know themselves they didn’t play well enough on the day. Take nothing away from Down and their performance. When Antrim took the lead through a late James McNaughton point, it looked like they had got out of jail. An armed robbery in the Marshes. It would have been an undeserving victory but one you would certainly have taken and moved on.
It didn’t materialize. Down were excellent at utilizing space in the Antrim defence with Shea Pucci on the edge of the square immense. When you have the likes of Daithi Sands and Tom McGrattan in an attacking unit, you’ll always be in with a chance. A defence well marshalled by Caolan Taggart and Barry Trainor along with Liam Savage in the middle third, Down have proven themselves to be a side who are in with a realistic chance in the McDonagh Cup.
But, in a competition where momentum plays a massive role, Antrim have to get off to a winning start. Use the hurt from that game, register two points early doors and get the ball rolling. With tricky away trips to Laois and London to follow, if Antrim are to have success in this competition for a record third time, you feel that a winning start is imperative.
The starting 15 has been named with Cormac McFadden getting a nod for the number one shirt. Ryan McNulty retains his position in the side after an excellent game against Down while Oisin Donnelly makes his debut in an Antrim shirt, forming a full back line with Niall O’Connor and Stephen Rooney. Donnelly taking the place of Gerard Walsh in the back six with the Rossa man carrying a knock coming into the game and only fit enough for a role on the bench.
Eoin O’Neill and Paul Boyle form the midfield pairing once again while there is one change in the attacking six. Ryan McCambridge coming in for Conor Johnston, the game coming too soon for Jonty as he looks to shake off a nasty hand injury.
The four week break since the league will have been used to refocus the mind and shift mentality towards the championship while taking in a warm weather training camp in Portugal, it’s all systems go for Saturday. We’ve seen the importance of and the positives of these training blocks in Portugal before – incredibly, I was told that it’s cheaper to do this for four days than go anywhere else in the country that might provide the same facilities. When you hear the list of counties from both codes using the same complex as Davy Fitzgerald’s side, you have to think that it’s a worthwhile exercise and one that the players themselves get behind with the fundraising. The training is intense, but the bonds that are formed and solidified coming through the likes of this are hugely beneficial to creating that team ethos that is a huge factor in gaining success.
The last time we faced Down in the McDonagh Cup, we came away from Ballycran with a handsome victory in 2022. Incredibly, Antrim will start with just six of the same starting 15 on Saturday while another came off the bench on that occasion.
Seaan Elliott grabbed two goals that day while Ciaran Clarke, Domhnall Nugent and Conor Johnston added the other majors in a 6-22 to 3-16 victory. I can’t see that margin of victory again, but I think Antrim will get their championship season off to a winning start.