It has been almost four and a half years since Antrim last visited Cullen Park. On that day in Octorber 2020 Carlow appeared to have that Joe McDonagh Cup game in the bag until a late burst by the Saffron, which brought a goal from a Ciaran Clarke penalty and one from play by Domnhal Nugent ,earned us a late draw. That point was to prove signifcant as the Saffron’s went on to beat Kerry in the final of the Joe Mac, in Croke Park in December, the Kingdom edging out Carlow for that place in the final.

Main pic – Domnhal Nugent fires the ball to the Carlow net to earn his team a late draw

Joe McDonagh Cup – Round 2

Saturday October 31 2020

Antrim 5-16 Carlow 2-25

Brendan McTaggart reports from Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow

A goal in the fourth minute of injury time from Domhnall Nugent gave Antrim a share of the spoils at the Netwatch Dr Cullen Park.  Carlow had carved out a four minute lead as the 70 as the game went into the additional time thanks to second half goals from Edward Byrne and John-Michael Nolan but the Saffrons dug deep and grabbed a draw in the face of defeat.

In a free flowing contest, the sides went toe to toe in the early exchanges with the Barrowsiders taking a one point lead at the water break with Martin and Jack Kavanagh doing the damage while Ciaran Clarke and Keelan Molloy looked dangerous for the Saffrons.

The first goal of the game came in the 22^nd minute with Clarke finishing to the net after strong work from Conor McCann and Clarke returned the favour just two minutes later to give the Saffrons their second goal and a three point lead.

The home side continued to chip away however with Jack Kavanagh leading the fight  and with Edward Byrne and Kevin McDonald ably assisting him, the cut the Antrim lead to 2-10 to 0-15 at the short whistle.

The Saffrons had the wind at their back in the second half but the introduction of Chris Nolan to the inside forward line looked to be a piece of tactical genius from Colm Bonnar.  He would finish the match with five points having entered the fray at half time but it was Edward Byrne’s 48^th minute goal that really swung the momentum in favour of Carlow. 

Carlow looked to be holding all the spades going into the final quarter but Antrim continued to fight.  They restored parity to the scoreboard in the 56^th minute thanks to Clarke’s penalty after Niall McKenna was fouled in the square but the Barrowsiders found another gear.  Chris and Jon Nolan with points before Jack and Martin Kavanagh split the uprights to give Carlow a four point lead for the first time in the match with seven minutes remaining.

The Saffrons fourth major came in the 69^th minute with substitute James McNaughton with a piece of individual brilliance to evade the Carlow tackles before hammering home but the home side scored what felt like the decisive score with their second goal just moments later.  John-Michael Nolan with the finish after Chris Nolan and Edward Byrne combined to set him through on goal.

Antrim dug deep one more time however with Paddy Burke splitting the uprights from distance before they got their rewards with the last meaningful action of the game.  A long ball was claimed by Niall McKenna who passed to Nugent and he gave Brian Tracey no chance in the Carlow goals.

Both sides will feel like they left this one behind them but a share of the spoils is probably the right result on the balance of play.

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Matthew Donnelly, Stephen Rooney; Gerard Walsh, Paddy Burke (0-1), Joe Maskey; Eoghan Campbell, Ryan McGarry; Niall McKenna (0-3), Keelan Molloy (0-2), Conal Cunning (0-1); Dan McCloskey (0-1), Conor McCann (1-1), Ciaran Clarke (2-7, 1-00 pen, 5 f’s, 1’65)

Subs: James McNaughton (1-00) for D McCloskey (46); Domhnall Nugent (1-00) for R McGarry (52); Aodhan O’Brien for G Walsh (62); Damon McMullan for P Duffin (57)

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Michael Doyle, Paul Doyle, Gary Bennett; Ger Coady, David English, Richard Coady; Jack Kavanagh (0-4), Paul Coady; John Michael Nolan (1-1), Diarmuid Byrne (0-1), Edward Byrne (1-2); Martin Kavanagh (0-7, 4f’s), Kevin McDonald (0-2), Ted Joyce (0-2)

Subs: Jon Nolan (0-1) for R Coady (HT); Chris Nolan (0-5) for T Joyce (40); Cathal Treacy for J Kavanagh (inj)

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)

Brendan McTaggart gives a few thoughts on Antrim’s McDonagh Cup journey ahead of the decider in Croke Park on Saturday.

A love-hate relationship that has defined the last four years.  That would be the best way to describe Antrim’s connection with the McDonagh Cup since its inception.

Every game a battle, every game fraught with danger, every game with permutations on down the line.  The McDonagh Cup has been a wonderful addition to the beautiful game but at the same time, you want to get out of there.

When the McDonagh Cup began, Antrim were instilled as favourites to be relegated to the Christy Ring Cup.  A sign of the progress that has been made on the pitch.

In seasons gone by in the McDonagh Cup, as Antrim supporters we looked at games in hope.  Hoping to pick up a win before a game in Mullingar or Tralee, Tullamore or Carlow.  This season has been different.  Such has been the hurling produced in recent times and the feel-good factor around the county, there’s been an expectation.  Expecting to beat Carlow, Down, Offaly and even Kerry last time out despite a number of ‘regulars’ missing.  A sign of the squad depth developed over the recent years.

Two years ago in the month of December, Antrim claimed their maiden McDonagh Cup.  Conor McCann leading the Saffrons up the steps of the Hogan Stand with more pigeons than spectators in Croke Park.  Covid depriving the Saffron following from making the journey down the Jones Road.  On Saturday, that changes.  We now have a chance to watch Antrim play in Croke Park on one of the biggest days in the hurling calendar.  A potential stepping stone for 2023 while either Cork or Wexford lays in wait in the All-Ireland Qualifier.  A home draw dependant on the home venue, I read that somewhere in the small print during the week.  Get the hashtags ready again – Corrigan Or Nowhere.  Hopefully it doesn’t get that far and someone has the sense to know Corrigan Park is ‘fit for purpose.’

Saturday will be another battle.  Kerry proved two weeks ago in Corrigan Park they aren’t there to make up the numbers and Antrim will have to be at themselves to leave Croke Park with the Cup in hand.  They are a side who play an expansive brand of hurling and have changed plenty since that meeting in Croke Park back in December 2020.

Memories from that game, McManus making his long awaited return to make a huge impact off the bench.  Domhnal Nugent coping Darren Gleeson on his arse at the full-time whistle and Donal Og Cusack’s summarising of the final.  That last memory still raises the old blood pressure every time I think on it.

This years memories?  Eoin ‘Sammy’ O’Neill’s point against Offaly, ridiculously sublime and the type of thing only he could be capable off.  The Offaly support were in great voice until those closing seconds.  Great stuff in the Corrigan Park stand.  Ciaran Clarke’s goal (made by a great Joe Maskey run from the throw-in) against Down coming before I had lined out the page in my scribbling pad in Ballycran and checking if Dan McConnell’s twitter updates were accurate from Pairc Tailteann in the game against Meath.  A match I couldn’t attend due to other commitments but seven goals later and our place was secured in this year’s final.

I wasn’t lucky enough to make that final given the Covid restrictions, I’ll be there on Saturday with my aul fella and daughters.  A family occasion.  One not to be missed, watching Antrim in Croke Park at any time should be embraced.  Any one I spoke to before our last McDonagh final ‘wished’ they could be there in Croke Park to watch Antrim play.  Now’s your chance.  A 4:30pm throw in, maybe doesn’t normally suit everyone, make it suit this time.  Let’s give this side the support their performances, effort, desire and commitment to the Saffron shirt deserves. 

Reaching their third McDonagh decider in succession, Kerry are knocking on the door.  Maybe light a Saffron candle tonight that the Kingdom doesn’t make it third time lucky.

Aontroim Abu.

Brendan McTaggart speaks to the Antrim captain.

Antrim Eoghan Campbell will have the honour to lead Antrim out on Saturday afternoon in the Joe McDonagh Final.  The Cushendall clubman has been Mr Consistency for the Saffrons this season and he’s relishing the opportunity to play in Croke Park.

This is Campbell’s first year with the armband but he told us his role within the team hasn’t changed: “To be honest, it hasn’t really changed much. Probably the way I approach it and the way I am, it doesn’t really change much. It is just me on the pitch, the team has to be there to carry us over the line. You might get to lift the cup at the end of the day and you’ve a few extra responsibilities. In terms of hurling or what I do on and off the pitch, it hasn’t changed anything about me. It is just a title you are given for the time you are out there.

“When you are leading your county, it is always a good thing. It will probably mean more to my family, seeing me lead Antrim out. My father had followed me everywhere, to every game. My mother and my two aunties still follow me to every game.”

Since 2020, Antrim have introduced more players to the squad.  Campbell told us that he and the other more senior players in the squad have been emphasising to embrace the occasion: “It was definitely unique in 2020 because there was nobody (support) there. Now, there will be people there. So, even for the boys who have been there, it is still going to be a different experience. 

“What the senior boys have been preaching is just communicating with ourselves and focusing on ourselves. Trusting that we’ve done the hard yards in November and December and, if we bring the work-rate and express ourselves well, we’ve a great chance in Croke Park. 

“The big thing is, we don’t want to go down there and go into ourselves, we have to embrace everything, the crowd, and just go at it. As I said, you don’t get to play at Croke Park too often, so you have to enjoy it.”

Many had predicted an Antrim and Offaly final before a ball was thrown in this season and up until the last round of games, this was still the same.  Antrim had secured their place in the final only for the Kingdom to win in Corrigan and Carlow to upset the Faithful County.  All resulting in an Antrim and Kerry final.  Campbell wasn’t at all surprised with the eventuality: “I don’t really think there was much of a reaction to be honest. We obviously knew, depending on the results, it could be any one of Carlow, Offaly or Kerry. 

“We knew we were in the final after beating Meath the week before. We really just focused on ourselves. We’d been carrying a few injuries and a few boys seen game-time against Kerry. 

“The focus has just been on ourselves.”

With the McDonagh Cup Final back in its ‘home’ as the Leinster Final curtain raiser, it will be a different occasion for Campbell and his team mates.  But the Saffrons captain said it’s exactly where it should be and the football powers should learn from the competition with a view to the Tailteann Cup: “I think having it before the Leinster Final is great, it works out well. You have the round-robin and, in the final, you know you are going to be playing before the likes of Kilkeny, Galway, Wexford or Dublin in a Leinster Final. 

“The promotion of the Joe McDonagh Cup has gotten better and Covid probably helped with that in terms of streaming services showing the games. 

“In terms of the actual promotion of the competition from the GAA – that could be better. 

“The media ban didn’t really help us. In terms of the first year of the Joe McDonagh and the first year of the Tailteann Cup, it is probably night and day. Offaly and Wexford played in the first round of the Tailteann Cup and you’d hardly have known it was on. 

“If you are an Antrim footballer, there is no promotion and no incentive. Whereas there is plenty of talk around the Joe McDonagh. People are chatting about, if Kerry win, should they go into the Munster Championship.

“It is night and day in terms of the promotion of the two competitions I would say.”

“The Joe McDonagh Cup is always going to be competitive and it is a great cup and it gives you competitive games and, if you win, you go into the Leinster round-robin.”

On Kerry, Campbell continued by saying there needs to be a change in the eventuality of a Kingdom win on Saturday: “Absolutely, if Kerry win, they should be in the Munster Championship. There are six teams in the Leinster Championship, there are only five in Munster so even it up? It is very simple, there’s nothing complicated about it. If I was a Kerry player knowing I’d have to play Tipperary after winning the Joe McDonagh. . . it is not a great prospect and I’d be up in arms to be honest. It is unacceptable and it is really unfair on them if they do win.”

Kerry are now playing in their third McDonagh Final in succession.  They’re a team who have been knocking hard to make the breakthrough and Campbell knows it’s a sterner test than the one they faced in 2020: “From the time we played them in 2020, it is very different. They’ve players who aren’t there and some new players who have come in, some very good players. We saw that last week, Colin Walsh, Eoin Ross, Fionan MacKessy. They’ve developed as a team and as individuals and it is going to be a massive battle. 

“We probably know each other inside out and we’ve played a lot over the last couple of years and we’ve been evenly-matched. 

“It will come down to a real battle and whoever wants it more on the day.

“I think they’ve improved (from 2020). Even the structure they bring to their game. They’ve developed their style of play and how they want to play. They probably don’t have a reliance on Shane Conway anymore – they have a lot more scoring forwards. 

“It is a different team and a different prospect.”