Antrim enter their Ulster Minor Championship clash with Monaghan carrying a quiet sense of momentum and growing belief. After a promising run through their league fixtures, this is a side that looks more settled and confident than in recent years
Much of Antrim’s optimism centres on a hard-working midfield and a forward line that has shown it can take scores under pressure. Discipline and decision-making, however, will be crucial—turnovers in key areas have hurt them before, and against seasoned opposition, those mistakes tend to be punished.
Defensively, Antrim will need to stay compact and organised, with communication across the back line likely to play a big role in limiting Monaghan’s scoring chances. If they can strike the right balance between patience and attacking intent, there’s a genuine opportunity to make this a competitive contest.
For Antrim, this fixture represents more than just a championship opener—it’s a chance for a young group to show their progress and lay down a marker for the future.
Antrim Minors make the trip to Inniskeen, mid-day Saturday to face Monaghan in the first round of the Ulster Minor Football Championship.
The young Saffrons will go into Saturday’s encounter with the Farney as rank outsiders but the underdog tag will probably suit Antrim and it’s something that Antrim teams have become accustomed to in recent years.
They face a Monaghan team who recently beat Tyrone in the Ulster Minor League final and will be amongst the favourites to lift Ulster and beyond.
This is not an Antrim team without hope however and while they suffered a number of defeats in the Ulster league they showed against Donegal just what they are capable of if they can put their best game together.
The Saffrons producing a solid performance but in the end they were forced to share the points with the Tir Connaill outfit in a game they should have won.
Dara Campbell, who had a fine game at mid-field for the hosts, responded for Antrim with Danny Og Cooney and Darragh O’Hare 2pt on target for the visitors and Tom Convery punishing a breech at the other end to leave Donegal 0-10 to 0-6 ahead at the break but with the breeze to face in the second half.
Antrim looked in a bit of trouble when Tadhd McDaid from play and then from a free extended the visitors lead at the start of the second half but they replied through Joey Griffin 2 pointer and another from Thomas Douthert to get their second half up and running.
The Saffrons were then punished as the ball was moved forward after a disputed free which O’Hare converted but they responded in the best possible way with Mark McFerran, Daire Thornbury and Aodhan O’Hanlon on target at the other end.
Indiscipline began to creep into the Antrim play though it has to be said that a number of the frees against them were of the soft variety and ace free taker, Darragh O’Hare took advantage with four on the bounce with Dara Campbell hitting a 2 pointer and a single from play to keep the home side in touch.
A great point from Sean McCormack had the side’s level going into injury time but again they were punished for an indiscretion, much to the annoyance of the home support, which O’Hare converted.
It looked as good as over at this stage but the young Saffrons showed tremendous fighting spirit and Daire Thornbury became their hero as he split the posts in the 34th minute to give them a share of the spoils.
