By Brendan McTaggart

25 months ago, Antrim started their Kehoe Cup campaign and it’s fair to say they weren’t in a good place.  Struggling to get a starting 15 together never mind the squad you saw before you yesterday.  The SOS call went out and the call was answered.  Not only by players but management too.

It was the day Darren Gleeson said he would commit to Antrim hurling.  Under Neal Peden, Darren came on board and took Antrim coaching to a new level.  He helped awaken a giant, he has helped instil belief and he has helped with the restoration of pride in the Antrim shirt.

A lot has been said of his 700km round trip from Portroe.  It is an incredible commitment to make for someone with a young family.  To put it in perspective, before he decided to take the Antrim job, Darren purchased a new car.  In the past week, he’s clocked a quarter of a million kilometres on the car.  250,000.  “The worse decision I’ve ever made” he told me and before I could say anything more, he corrected himself, “I mean buying the car at that time” and laughing off anything that would come his way thereafter.  The man loves his hurling, his coaching and what he’s achieving with Antrim and it’s clear to see his backroom team and squad love him.

But for Antrim to get where they are now, it’s not just down to the coaching talents of Mr Gleeson, Gary O’Kane, Johnny Campbell or Jim Close.  The input of Neal Peden as Director of Hurling was a step in the right direction as well.  A man with years of experience from his playing days, coaching and management.  He could relate to the needs of the current management and all for the good of Antrim hurling.  A stepping stone in the right direction.

Off the pitch, the wheels have been put in motion long before this year to get Antrim going in the right direction again.  When Gaelfast, Club Aontroma and The Saffron Business Forum were created, there’s hope.  A hope it will help and hope that it will bring Antrim to days like these.  That hope has changed to belief and if it hasn’t throughout the county, it should be now.  The backing from Club Aontroma and the SBF has been crucial to garner support from everyone in the county and helping the squad build the belief and pride in the shirt.  From the brilliant ‘Up for the Final’ production on Friday night to the entire squad being suited and booted for the occasion yesterday and everything in between.  Don’t underestimate the power and influence of these cogs in the Antrim GAA machine.

The match itself?  I wouldn’t have like to see my blood pressure stats.  It wasn’t plain sailing, far from it.  But was it ever going to be?  Kerry are a good side and for three weeks they’ve been formulating a plan to stop Antrim from ripping them apart at will and they did that.  Two sweepers will have that effect.  And while it took Antrim a while to adapt, adapt they did.  A sign the side has matured and a sign of the work the management team have put in for the past two years.

The impact of the substitutions was undoubtedly massive.  Tough calls had to be made, big calls had to be made.  Big calls were made and they came off.  The introductions of Conal Cunning at half time, Domhnall Nugent and one Neil McManus 10 minutes into the second half.  All three had huge impacts on the game while Conor Johnston and Aodhan O’Brien had the desired effect later in the game.  McManus with four points in 25 or so minutes and from a player who had only fully trained in the past seven days since tearing his hamstring in the league final.  A calming influence, another leader, the man Antrim needed and Darren Gleeson recognised it.  The call was made and Antrim reaped in the rewards of such a move.  These type of calls have been made all season though so it’s no surprise when Darren raised the curly finger.  He has made use of the talent in his squad and strength in depth and all season they’ve have had that desired impact.  Not only that but it was different players making that impact.  They didn’t use their full allocation of subs just once during the McDonagh Cup and it hasn’t been the same five at any stage. 

I didn’t get to watch the Sunday Game last night, I will at some stage but it’s disappointing for man of Donal Og Cusack’s standing in the game to say what he did in the aftermath of yesterday’s final.  Finals are for winning, everything else is secondary.  Antrim have played better this year, they will play better again.  Playing in Division One and the Leinster Championship in 2021 will bring that from them again.  A folly move to make such an assumption based on one match, just my tuppence worth.

In the year that’s been, the GAA and Antrim have been a shining light for those who follow them.  I hope when restrictions are lifted those numbers increase even further.  I’m close to my very own John Mullane moment here: “I Love my County” but it’s been an incredible year.  An incredible journey.  Speaking with the players last night in Dublin, they don’t want to stop.  2020 was a breakthrough year for Antrim hurling but it’s not the summit.  The journey continues.

2020….the year it all came together for Antrim hurling.

Brendan has compiled the Antrim stats from the McDonagh Cup so far

Across the four matches so far, ten players have started every match – Phelim Duffin, Matthew Donnelly, Stephen Rooney, Gerard Walsh, Paddy Burke, Eoghan Campbell, Dan McCloskey, Niall McKenna, Conor McCann and Ciaran Clarke.  The full forward and full back lines have remained unchanged with Campbell an ever present at midfield.  Damon McMullan the most used substitute, the Loughgiel man coming off the bench in every game so far.

Antrim have had an impressive tally of 17 different scorers throughout the campaign while 10 different clubs have been represented from all grades on the field of play – Dunloy have the most representatives with eight players, Cushendall and St John’s with four each.  Loughgiel have three, Rossa and Ballycastle with two while St Paul’s, Naomh Eanna, Sarsfields and Creggan with one representative.

	W’meath	Carlow	Kerry	Meath
Ryan Elliott	1	1	1	–
Phelim Duffin	2	2	2	2
Matthew Donnelly	3	3	3	3
Stephen Rooney	4	4	4	4
Gerard Walsh	5 (0-2)	5	5	5
Paddy Burke	6	6 (0-1)	6	6
Joe Maskey	7	7	7	–
Eoghan Campbell	8 (0-2)	8	8	8 (0-1)
Ryan McGarry	9	9	–	7 (0-1)
Niall McKenna	10 (0-4)	10 (0-3)	10	10 (1-00)
Aodhan O’Brien	11 (1-00)	Sub	–	9
Keelan Molloy	12 (0-4)	11 (0-2)	9 (0-3)	–
Dan McCloskey	13	13 (0-1)	13 (0-1)	13 (1-00)
Conor McCann	14 (1-3)	14 (1-1)	14 (2-3)	14 (0-2)
Ciaran Clarke	15 (2-8)	15 (2-7)	15 (0-9)	15 (0-12)
Nicky McKeague	Sub	–	–	Sub (0-2)
Damon McMullan	Sub (0-1)	Sub	Sub	Sub (0-1)
Ryan McCambridge	Sub	–	Sub	–
Ronan Molloy	Sub	–	Sub	–
Simon McCrory	Sub (0-1)	–	–	–
Conal Cunning	–	12 (0-1)	–	–
James McNaughton	–	Sub (1-00)	11	11 (0-2)
Domhnall Nugent	–	Sub (1-00)	Sub	Sub (0-1)
Michael Bradley	–	–	12 (1-2)	12 (0-8)
Eoin O’Neill	–	–	Sub	Sub
Conor McAllister	–	–	–	1
Conor Johnston	–	–	–	Sub

Total scorers So Far…

Ciaran Clarke              4-36 (1-29f)

Conor McCann            4-9

Michael Bradley         1-10

Niall McKenna            1-7

Keelan Molloy             0-9

James McNaughton    1-2

Dan McCloskey           1-2  

Domhnall Nugent        1-1

Eoghan Campbell        0-3

Aodhan O’Brien          1-00

Damon McMullan       0-2

Nicky McKeague         0-2

Gerard Walsh              0-2

Ryan McGarry             0-1

Simon McCrory           0-1

Paddy Burke                0-1

Conal Cunning             0-1

By Brendan McTaggart

November 30^th, 2019.  The date Darren Gleeson’s men started their 2020 campaign.  A resounding 18 point win over Meath in Navan.  The wheels were put in motion for what has been a year like no other, in more ways than one.

January 12^th, 2020.  The last time Antrim tasted defeat.  It was Navan again but this time it was Faithful opposition.  A one point defeat but a glimpse of what was to come.  They may not have been firing on all cylinders on the day but a late Dan McCloskey goal brought them to the brink of what seemed like an unlikely victory.  The spirit, the fight, the desire was already there.

The league followed.  A slow start against Wicklow and Mayo before mighty performances against Meath and Kerry sealed a final spot.  Two games in Tullamore, six months apart with the promise of a Croke Park league final come and gone.  Covid looked to destroy everything, but the GAA was resolute with other thoughts.  Antrim took the opportunity with rabid passion, hunger and desire against the Kingdom. 

Promotion was sealed.  A mighty day for the fans of the Saffrons.  The terraces and stands were empty but these boys were playing for the club, their parishes, their families and their county.  Showing immense pride in that fabled Saffron jersey.

Bumps on the road before the McDonagh Cup began.  Covid and doubt.  They have gone hand in hand this year but Antrim stood resolute.  Westmeath come and gone, a trip to Carlow where they pulled the rabbit out of the hat before thy Kingdom cometh to Corrigan Park for a third match of the year.  Another Antrim win and a debut spot in the McDonagh final was all but sealed.  We just had to avoid a catastrophe against Meath in Navan.  Let’s face it, in the year that’s been, no one would have ruled it out.

No one that is, apart from this current Antrim squad.  Changes were made, belief was instilled even further in the squad and they didn’t let us down.  A relentless performance against the Royals were Antrim racked up another big win and continued their momentum.

Kerry await for a fourth time this season.  It certainly is a rarity on the intercounty scene for two teams to meet four times in the one calendar year but this is 2020, anything can and has happened.  These teams will know each other inside out by now.  Antrim know the threats of Shane Conway, Mikey Boyle, Shane Nolan and the defensive capabilities of Bryan Murphy, Jason Diggins and Fionan Mackessy.

The Saffron journey hasn’t really been the usual rollercoaster we’ve become accustomed to in recent years, it’s more akin to a juggernaut in 2020.  They have stepped up in their ‘professionalism’ and fine-tuned the good work of predeceasing management and the results have followed on the pitch.  In years gone by they were capable of beating anyone on their day, the problem was having enough of ‘those days’ to make an impact.  That problem looks to have been dealt with like every other problem put in front of the management and players this year.

The only thing missing is the fans.  Everyone with any kind of Saffron in their being would have loved to be part of this McDonagh Cup campaign.  I’ve been in an extremely privileged position to have witnessed every minute of this teams journey across the country under Darren’s tutelage since that cold November day in Navan against Meath and as an Antrim man I am unbelievably proud of the team they have become. 

This team have been through it all and more this year.  They have dealt with everything that has come their way and moved on to the next.  They have shown no signs of letting up and embraced every challenge with full focus and never looking beyond.  They deserve to be in Croke Park, they deserve to be playing on the biggest Sunday in the hurling calendar.  They deserve our support in any way we can.

1989 was a generation ago.  As an 8 year old I can remember being with my godfather for the big match God rest him, a massive Bellaghy and Derry man and the biggest wind up merchant you would ever have met.  “English will beat you’s on your own” – a twinkle in his eye and a cheeky smile that hasn’t left my thoughts 31 years later.  Uncle Sean wasn’t going to dampen my pride in watching Antrim play in an All-Ireland final.  An example that memories truly are made from days like these.

In a year like no other, it’s already been a season to remember.  The GAA have delivered under the most testing of times and unprecedented circumstances.  Antrim GAA have also delivered.  Darren Gleeson and his band of heroes have one more hurdle to negotiate before claiming the ultimate Saffron Christmas present.  The McDonagh Cup would be a welcome addition to the Saffron County.  We’ll welcome him with open arms.

In Croke Park, there are no hiding places.  In Croke Park, history is written and heroes made.  Antrim victories in Croke Park have been few and far between over the years. Fifty years ago the Saffrons won the Intermediate title, their first major hurling final win at headquarters and with all the plans to celebrate the anniversary of that victory scuppered because of Covid it would be a great way to remember it.

It’s time to add another chapter to the Saffron GAA.

The Saffron Business Forum presents – Up for The Final

By Brendan McTaggart

Friday night, 8pm.  If you have any Saffron blood coursing through your veins, you won’t want to miss what’s in store on the Antrim GAA YouTube Channel.  Courtesy of the Saffron Business Forum, an evening of banter and craic as Mark Sidebottom hosts ‘Up for the Final.’

How it all came about?  BBC’s Mark Sidebottom told us they had a thought and it snowballed: “A few of us got around a table and wanted to know how we could give something back to the fans in this the most unprecedented of years.”  Mark continued: “Tony Shivers, myself and other members of the Saffron Business Forum put the idea out there and in fairness the county board latched onto the idea as well with Sean Kelly helping to promote.  We parked our other priorities and came up with a plan to produce something that would engage the Antrim fans with the team and properly acknowledge this teams achievements this year”

Mark will be joined by Johnny McIntosh, Shane Elliott as well as having a chat with a list of guests on the night as they reveal Antrim’s starting 15 for the Final on Sunday.  Mark will also be asking Shane and Johnny for their best Antrim 15’s from the last 50 years, not including anyone from the current squad and chatting with current senior hurling coach and link back to 1989, Gary O’Kane.  The winners of the Cumann na mBunscol competition will be announced with first place claiming a very special prize.

It promises to be a special evening and a special thanks to the Saffron Business Forum who have made this possible. 

The line-up:

• Brooke Scullion – The Voice Finalist
• The Raparees – a special rendition of the Green Glens of Antrim from Joe McKeague
• Stephen Tierney – impressionist
• ’89 Captain, Ciaran Barr
• Liam Sheedy – two time All Ireland winner
• Enda McGinley – three time All Ireland winner and new Antrim football manager
• Antrim Captain, Conor McCann
• Antrim Manager, Darren Gleeson
• Antrim Chairman, Ciaran McCavana

Brooke Scullion

Stephen Tierney

Another special guest on #UpForTheFinal sponsored by the Saffron Business Forum live this Friday on Antrim Gaa You Tube channel 8pm @tierneytalks pic.twitter.com/SCrIkk2rmy

— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) December 9, 2020

McDonagh Cup Final Preview – Antrim vs Kerry

By Brendan McTaggart

When Conor McCann leads Antrim out onto Croke Park on Sunday he will be the first man from the South West to captain the Saffrons in a hurling final. (Not the first from the south west to play in one, as the 1943 team who played Cork in the senior final had three Creggan men on the panel, goalkeeper John Hurl and half-back Pat McKeown, plus Gerry McAteer who was among the subs.)   A nice accolade to have but if you were to run that one past the current captain of the Saffrons, he won’t think too much about it.  It’s just the type of person he is.

A quiet, unassuming gentleman off the pitch, a leader of men and a hurling beast on it.  Conor McCann has been the leader and role model both on and off the pitch.  The perfect captain.

When it comes to media commitments, the Creggan man never falters.  He is measured and assured but speaks with pride on his role in the team and what he and his team have achieved this year.  So Far.

But there is no getting away from the fact he is an extremely proud Creggan man and McCann knows the significance and potential impact him leading out an Antrim team in Sunday’s final will have in the South-West of the county: “It’s going to be a great occasion obviously for the team but for myself, my family and my club.  It’s a nice honour.” Said McCann.  “The people in the South West are very proud of their hurling background in general, the last few years we’ve been working hard in the area to build it up and having someone at this stage and standing will be good for the underage and give them something to aspire to.  This is a good place to be.”

In the second year as captain, McCann has had plenty to deal with.  None more bizarre then the introduction of ‘Zoom Training’ sessions as the Saffrons got to grips with the initial lockdown in March.  However, the Antrim captain told us the experience and what the team came through together as individuals has helped to galvanise the squad even further: “There’s plenty of challenges along the way and it can be daunting enough but I like to think I’ve grown into it at this stage.  The team are playing well and the groups came together well this season.  It’s been a nice journey so far but the big one is the next game.

“We were three or four days away from the league final against Kerry in Croke Park, that was cancelled and we were very conscious that we had got to a certain level.  We had built ourselves up for six months at that stage and we couldn’t let that go.  The lads worked really hard during lock down with our Zoom sessions.  We were given our own programmes to work away at and everyone stuck to it to a tee.  It was difficult and the trainings were tough and hard but we were conscious that it was important for the players to keep focussed and work towards this.  You could tell that togetherness has been there since the restart in September-October and the team have grew since then.”

The Antrim forward has hit a purple patch in front of goal with the last outing against Meath the first time since the Saffrons played the Royals in the league that he failed to find the net.  A run of seven goals in six games and as you would expect, McCann praised the efforts of his team and the work rate further out the pitch before those chances came his way: “I suppose someone had to finish the chances but I would never take all the credit.  There’s a lot of hard work and good play out the field that gets to that position and I’ve been lucky enough to be on the end of that play on a few occasions.

“We preach it every time, it doesn’t matter who’s on the end of the chances, as long as they’re going in and we’re taking them.  It’s scores on the board for Antrim.”

It was six years ago since McCann played in Croke Park for the first time.  A match that has been written into the folklore of the south west club.  The All-Ireland junior club final against what is now a star studded Ballysaggart team from Waterford.  An epic match where Creggan came back from 10 points down at half time with McCann equalising with a mammoth free in injury time before the match ended a draw after extra time.  McCann joked: “I get reminded of that (equalising point) one a lot.  But it goes down in Creggan’s history books and Antrim’s.  We were playing against the likes of the Bennett’s.  Stephen Bennett is flying for Waterford and he was really good then and we managed to get him ushered away in the second game.”  He continued: “I have fond memories of Croke Park and it will be nice to get back out there again, albeit without support.  It’s such a special place, especially this year with the commemoration and everything that’s surrounding that.  Having our manager from Tipperary adds to that and it will be an emotional occasion but hopefully it’s one we can grow into and enjoy as a team.

“In the last few years Antrim hurlers have maybe struggled in Croke Park.  The Carlow game and the Meath games before that.  We maybe let the occasion get to us then and got wrapped up on the actual match and not enough on the performance.  We’ll hopefully learn from that and take any lessons on board but this would be a fairly new squad compared to then.  A new bunch have come in and new management so we’re hoping to stay in a positive mindset and get the right result for us.”

2020 has been an incredible year so far for the Saffrons.  The Kehoe Cup final defeat their only loss in this calendar year.  McCann has two highlights of the year so far: “The final game against Offaly where we came back and drew.  We didn’t face them again after that but it was the manner in how we hung on and grinded out a result that day.  That was our last game before lock down and since the league final we’ve really powered on.

“The couple of games we had up here, Westmeath when we lost players with covid.  That was a massive turning point for us.  We got a lot of confidence from that, knowing we went out and played really well against a side we’ve struggled with in the past, we made short work of them and the team has moved on from that.”

With a fourth meeting against Kerry and the Kingdom standing between McCann leading his side into the Leinster championship in 2021, the Creggan man told us there is little chance of complacency setting in, despite their 100% record against them this year: “We’re well acquainted with them at this stage and them with us.  We’re looking forward to, you know, Kerry are a really strong team with a lot of class hurlers.  They are very dangerous if we let them impose themselves on us.  You look at Mikey Boyle, Shane Nolan, they are really strong and good scorers.  We’ll be going in cautious but we’re hoping we can enforce our game plan on them.  Get good rhythm in place, work hard and do everything that we’re training and working towards.  Kerry are a good team and we won’t be taking them lightly but we’re trying to treat it as just another game for us.

“It’s a big occasion and you can try and play it down as much as you can.  We are a young team and maybe only half of the squad have played in Croke Park, half haven’t.  We’ll enjoy it.  We want the lads to enjoy it, be themselves, express themselves the way they have done all year.  Enjoy the occasion but don’t get wrapped up in it and hopefully our hurling will come through then.”