Tailteann Cup 1st Round
Carlow v Antrim
Netwatch Cullen Park – Sunday 1-30
Antrim renew acquaintances with familiar foes, Carlow when they make the long journey to Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday to meet the Division 4 league winners in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup.
The sides met in the opening game of Division 4 in Portglenone with hopes high in the Saffron County that Antrim could make a quick return to Division 3 following their relegation the previous year and with home advantage they were hoping to get off to a good start.
It didn’t quite work out that way however as Mark Doran’s first National League game as Antrim manager began with a sobering defeat at Portglenone, as Carlow claimed a 2-16 to 1-15 victory to open their Division 4 campaign. Despite a bright start from the hosts, a critical lapse in concentration immediately after the interval proved insurmountable. While Antrim entered the break trailing by only a single point, they found themselves six points adrift within just two minutes of the restart, a period Doran later identified as the turning point that cost his side the game.
It would take another two defeats before Antrim finally got their league campaign together but things began to come together when they defeated Wicklow in Portglenone in Round 4.
The Saffrons would go on to record 4 league victories in succession and were in with an outside chance of promotion going into their final game against London in Toome.
Antrim edged that game by a point but results elsewhere dictated that it would be Carlow and Longford who would gain promotion with Carlow going on to defeat Longford in that Division 4 final.
Carlow will start Sunday’s Tailteann Cup opener as favourites but Mark Doran’s Saffrons should hold no fear of the Leinster minnows as their form has improved as the league progressed and, prior to their Ulster championship loss to Derry, they had recorded four NFL wins on the bounce.
It took a time for the Antrim management to come up with their best side but there was plenty of evidence during the closing rounds of the league that the Saffrons were on an upward trajectory.
Kevin McCann, John Carron, Conor Small, Paddy McBride, Sean O’Neill and Oisin Doherty started in that league opener against Carlow but McBride and Small have left the panel, O’Neill is injured and only Doherty has figured in recent league games.
At the time of writing the Antrim team to play carlow has just been announced and is along familiar lines in recent outings and looks good enough to do the buisness. (Team in Featured image)
The return of Peter Healey to the side has been a massive boost while John McNabb, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keernan, Marc Jordan, Eoghan McCabe, Joe Finnegan, Paddy McAleer, Pat Shivers, Niall Burns and Dominic McEnhill, who have all featured regularly getting the nod.
Carlow went into their league campaign on the back of a four game winning run in the Leinster Shield and added the division 4 league title so will be firm favourites at Netwatch Cullen Park.
In Mickey Bamberick, Conor Doyle, Ross Dunphy, Colm Hulton, Paddy McDonnell and Eoghan Ruth, Carlow have top class performers but don’t rule out an upset in Carlow Town on Sunday afternoon.