Darren Gleeson leads his Antrim team to Croke Park and the final of the McDonagh Cup once again, hoping for a return to Leinster competition at the first time of asking. With preparations in full tilt, the Saffrons manager said the circumstances leading to the final couldn’t be more different from the 2020 finl at those unique surrounding: “Two years ago it was a battle trying to get the people in to make the whole unit on the day. We had limited numbers and it was a completely different focus.
“This time, there’s loads of tickets available, the families are there, the people you need around you are there. The different support teams that’s needed for an inter-county side are there and they weren’t available in 2020. There’s no similarities. Limerick and Waterford were on afterwards and it was like two challenge matches in a back field in God knows where.
“This time we’re on Leinster Final Day with Kilkenny and Galway, the Brian (Cody) and Henry (Shefflin) sub-plot, and Antrim and Kerry with the opener. So it’s completely different and really exciting.”
With the squad facing unparalleled injuries this season, it’s given Gleeson and his team the opportunity to assess his squad in the heat of battle that the McDonagh Cup brings. Gleeson is pleased with how this current Antrim squad have progressed: “Massively evolved. You take it during the season we’ve had people out for different times and people in our squad, 31 players, and I believe every one is capable of coming in and doing a job for us. They’ve proved that this year.
“Even last weekend (against Kerry) when we made five or six changes. The guys really gave a good account of themselves and I was please coming away from that game. Similarly when we had injuries early on in the Joe McDonagh, all the boys stood up and played really well.”
The news is encouraging on the injury front however with the list reducing ahead of the final: “Paul McMullan has a broken thumb but he’s coming back quickly. Damon McMullan is making huge progress, we didn’t have Damon all year and he’s back on the field doing a bit of hurling which is great. Seaan Elliott had a knock on the hand but he’s grand and Ciaran Clarke is back in full training. Everyone else got a bit of game time last week, Keelan (Molloy) and Neil (McManus), Niall McKenna the weekend before.”
Molloy and McManus got game time against Kerry in Corrigan Park, crucial in their recovery from injuries with Matthew Donnelly and David Kearney also getting game time and giving Gleeson options in defence.
This current squad have developed both on and off the pitch such is their bond within the squad. Gleeson paid tribute to the Antrim Board and the players themselves who have contributed to the club-like feel: “Everyone says they’re like a club team, the way they’re bonded with each other but like in any walk of life, when you get a group of people who have the same goals and ambitions and put them in the same room, put a platform in front of them where they can become the best player they want to be, you’ll get cohesiveness. That’s what they’ve created, not me or Gary (O’Kane), Johnny (Campbell), Jim (Close) and Clinton (Hennessy). They’ve created this atmosphere themselves because they’ve given themselves fully to it.”
Despite defeating Kerry in the league and league decider in 2020 as well as the McDonagh Cup Final, Gleeson insists they are leaving no stone unturned ahead of what promises to be a titanic match on Saturday afternoon: “Last weekend shows us Kerry are a different animal to how they were two years ago. They’re a lot physically stronger, very well drilled and a really good game plan. They look like a team who really knows who knows what they’re doing. We’ll have to be on top of our game to get anything out of this game.”
Two years ago and Antrim playing in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day, the Saffrons support were starved of watching the final in person. Now, the hurling Gods have decreed those of a Saffron persuasion have another chance, albeit on Leinster finals day. It’s a massive opportunity for Antrim to continue their development and showcase to the country what they are capable of on the biggest stage of them all. The Antrim manager finished our conversation by telling us exactly what Saturday means to him and implores the Saffron public to make the journey down the M1: “It’s everything. It’s a massive day for the county. It’s a prime opportunity for Antrim as a county to sell our games. Show the kids, their parents, one of the biggest days in the hurling calendar, Leinster Final day. Antrim are down in the McDonagh Final and I hope we see a huge Antrim crowd coming down the road. It’s one day in the year, make it happen. Get down and support this team.
“I always say this to the players, when you pass the doors when you’re driving from Cushendall or Belfast or Ballycastle or wherever, the doors you’re passing are the people who have reared you to play the game and they’re the people you’re going representing.
These boys have been travelling across the length of the country and county in the dark of the morning and night to represent their county, I hope that will be reciprocated on the 4th June.”
