Down v Antrim – Saul 2.30pm
Referee: Paul Quigley (Derry)
Antrim Masters are hoping to get their season back on track on Saturday when they travel to Saul for a 2.30pm throw in.
Pitted in an ultra-competitive group this year Antrim have found themselves half a dozen points on the wrong side of the score against both of last year’s Tier One finalist Donegal and five time in succession winners Tyrone.
In between those contests Antrim produced their best performance of the year to date to see off a Derry team in Dungiven by nine points – particularly impressive in light of the fact that this was Derry’s sole defeat in this year’s campaign, currently sitting on a solid three wins out of four match ratio!
Further perspective of the quality of this seasons opposition is provided by that fact that Monaghan, who overcame Antrim by a diminishing two points in round one in Portglenone in early May have gone on to record four victories on the trot and are currently sitting top of the table!
Antrim’s last two league encounters are away to Down this Saturday and home to Cavan – the county who defeated Antrim in last seasons tier two final in Kingspan Breffni Park.
Management of Frank Delargy and assistant Timmy Connolly are hoping to get a strong panel together for this one and get a result that will build momentum as the season enters its business stage.
“It’s an unusual time of the year, many panellists will have holiday plans and we have a few players nursing recent injuries – but I`m sure that’s the same for every county, said Delargy. “It’s been tough this year, I think we have lost the surprise element after a couple of great seasons, but we have been competitive against counties who are flying high at the minute. Hopefully we can string a few good performances together now and go into Augusts championship playoffs in good fettle” he concluded.
Special thanks to Michael McCourt (Opticare Opticians & Audiocare Hearing) for his matchday sponsorship of Saturdays match.
