Joe McDonagh Cup – Round Robin – Match Day 1

Antrim v Offaly – Venue: Corrigan Park, Belfast Throw in: 2pm

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)

GET OUT AND SUPPORT THE SAFFRONS

After the rollercoaster ride that was the league campaign, Antrim now turn their attention to the McDonagh Cup and the chance for national silverware once again.  The Saffrons memorably won this competition in 2020 and have been made as the favourites by the bookmakers but as we know, the road travelled through the McDonagh Cup is rarely straightforward.

As fate would have it, Darren Gleeson’s men have Offaly in the first match of the round robin.  Having defeated the Faithful County in the league playoff to retain their Division One status, this contest comes with an added edge.  Michael Fennelly will be bringing his side to Corrigan Park with revenge on their mind: “Offaly will be coming with a massive effort after what happened in the league play-off and the nature of this competition, if you lose one game then you’re on the backfoot straight away” said Gleeson, “whoever wins on Saturday will be in a great position and can almost afford to lose one of the remaining games.”

With three home matches against Offaly, Carlow and Kerry, the draw has been kind to the Saffrons but Gleeson was wary of what lays ahead: “The draw has been more kind than the recent past but look, you get nothing easy going to Ballycran and sure we all know the history between Antrim and Meath.  They’re well able to getting in the way and upsetting us so we’ll be treating every game with the same focus no matter the opposition.”

After another year in Division One, Antrim have played at a top level and it will surely stand by them going into the McDonagh Cup but the league has taken it’s toll on the squad as Gleeson told us: “I’m very pleased with the make-up of the squad.  Yes there’s a long list of injuries with a couple more additions to that list since the Offaly game but I have a committed squad who are focussed and ready for the game on Saturday.  There’s positives to be working with a smaller squad and everyone is playing very well right now.

“David Kearney has an ankle injury while James McNaughton picked up a horrible dead leg during the week.

“We never looked for a challenge game, I know Offaly and Laois played each other but we took the opportunity to work on a few things on the training pitch that a condensed league campaign didn’t allow.

“We played as well in the league as we did last year but the results didn’t follow.  The biggest positive to come from the campaign was the reaction we got from the players against Offaly.  There was huge disappointment leaving Portlaoise and we didn’t do what we have been doing or been trying.  The lads reacted well in the play-off and the result followed.

“In last years championship we got caught a little, probably stuck in league mode and didn’t make that transition to a championship mindset that’s required.  We’ve been working on that to make sure the players know they have to step up again to at least the performance levels the last day if not even further.”

The team has been announced with two changes to the starting team from that play-off win against Offaly. Scott Walsh and Seaan Elliott coming in for David Kearney and James McNaughton.  On paper, it’s another exciting Antrim line-up who all have experienced Division One hurling over the last two seasons.  But Saturday is championship and whatever has come before has no relevance.  The McDonagh Cup is a fantastic competition and Offaly travel to Belfast with a point to prove to themselves as well as the rest of the hurling world.  Gleeson finished our interview with a rallying call for a huge support to help his side: “Please God, it’s so important.  We really need them on Saturday and I’m hopeful that with it being Easter weekend and maybe no work on the Saturday that everyone will get out and get behind this team.  It makes a phenomenal difference to the players to hear that support and I really hope for another big crowd in Corrigan.”

Starting team:

1 Ryan Elliott 2 Ryan McGarry 3 Gerard Walsh 4 Stephen Rooney 5 Paddy Burke 6 Eoghan Campbell

7 Scott Walsh 8 Keelan Molloy 9 Joe Maskey 10 Seaan Elliott 11 Domhnall Nugent 12 Conor McCann

13 Conal Cunning 14 Ciaran Clarke 15 Conor Johnston

Leinster Under 17 Hurling Championship – Group 3

Meath 1-9 Antrim 3-16

Antrim Minors beat Meath last weekend on a scoreline of 3-16 to 1-9 to record their fourth win on the bounce after victories over Carlow, Westmeath and Derry to top their group in the Leinster Championship qualifiers. This is no mean achievement by Alan Rainey’s squad as it is not easy to get consistent performances from a young group especially when they have played all their games away from home. They are on their travels again when they play Down in their final group game in Portaferry on Sat 16th at 11am. It would be great to get some support down to Portaferry on Saturday morning to see the young Saffs play against our old rivals Down in this all Ulster clash and make a day out of it by then going on to Corrigan Park to cheer on the seniors against Offaly.

Having topped their group Antrim have already been drawn against Kildare in the preliminary Leinster quarter final, which is to played on Sat 23rd, venue TBA. Let’s hope for a home draw for these young lads, as they have been Antrim’s most successful minor team in recent years, and deserve an opportunity to be seen by home support, but wherever the venue let’s make sure we get a large support to cheer the lads on.

Leinster U20 Hurling Championship, Round One

Laois 3-21 Antrim 0-12

Antrim’s Under 20 hurlers’ season came to an end at Parnell Park on Saturday when they were well beaten by Laois in the last sixteen of the Leinster Championship. When the young Saffrons went in at half time trailing by just three points (0-9 to 0-6) the signs looked good for Paudie Shivers team. To have played ‘up the slope’ in the first half and just trail by 3, most team’s would have felt they were in with a great chance, but Laois upped the pace in the second half, and though their 3 late goals might have made the margin of victory a little flattering, they were still on a different level.  

The early signs were good for Antrim as Seamus McAuley hit two early points, and when Eoin Trainor fired over, after receiving a great pass from ‘Bicky’ McGarry thing were looking up.

However it was clear that Laois were begging to find their feet and as they got to grips with the Ulster side and were soon level on four points apiece. Laois should have their first major when Kirwin was put in on goal by Noah Quinlan but he somehow missed the target and Antrim took advantage as Bubbles McMullan pointed at the other end.

The O’Moore County side were squandering a series of chances, but when they changed their free taker, which paid immediate dividends at Cillian Dunne sent over a couple of excellent scores to help his team to a 0-9 to 0-6 half time lead.

The early stages of the second half saw Antrim stay well in touch as Tiernan Smyth replied to an early Laois point from Quinlan. Laois moved five ahead as Dunne and Duggan found the target, but the gap was back to four again when Smyth sent one over for the Saffrons.

However it was clear the boys from the Midlands were starting to get on top and they began to make it show on the scoreboard as they hit 1-6 without reply to all but put the game beyond Antrim’s reach, three of the point coming from Padraig Brennan and the goal from the impressive Noah Quinlan.

Second half substitute Seanie McIntosh impressed as he hit two fine points and Christy McGarry knocked over two from placed balls, but Laois were stretching the gap by the minute, and while Duggan and Quinlan’s late goals may have flattered Laois a little, they were convincing winners nonetheless.

Afterwards a very disappointed Antrim manager Paudie Shivers said “I’m an Antrim man and we’ve had many days like this, but it’s just part of life and important to take the learnings and move on with it,” “We’ve got 12 boys moving on now (to senior) and I wouldn’t hesitate to put any of those 12 boys into senior-level because the way they have committed and their skill level – although it didn’t happen for them today.

“Whilst it is a disappointing result for us, things are put firmly in perspective by the passing of John Mullan (our goalkeeper Callum Mullan’s grandfather) prior to the game and I want to pass on the condolences to the Mullan family on behalf of Callum’s team-mates and coaches. I’m sure John would be very proud of him today.”

ANTRIM: Callum Mullan; Ruairi McCormick, Rory McCloskey, Dubhaltach Wilson; Daire McMullan, Enda Og McGarry, Barry Scott; Eoin Trainor, Ronan Laverty; Rian McMullan (0-1), Seamus McAuley (0-3 frees), Daire Murphy; Tiernan Smyth (0-1), Aidan Scullion, Christy McGarry (0-5, 3 frees).
Subs: Feargal McKiernan for S McAuley (HT), Conlith McKinley for D Murphy (HT), Seanie McIntosh (0-2) for A Scullion (42), Niall McGarel for T Smyth (52), Conor Boyle for D McMullan (56)

LAOIS: Paddy Hassett; Ian Shanahan, Lawson Obular, Danny Brennan; Padraig Brennan (0-4), Niall Cross (0-1), Philip Aynan; Cody Comerford, Tadgh Cuddy; Dan Delaney (0-3 frees), Cillian Dunne (0-6, 3 frees, 1 65), Eddie Critchley; James Duggan (1-4), Noah Quinlan (2-1), Adam Kirwin (0-1).
Subs: Colin Byrne for A Kirwin (29), Bryan Bredin for E Critchley (41), Shaun Fitzpatrick for D Delaney (53), Rian Edwards for C Comerford (55), Tiarnach Doheny (0-1) for D Brennan (58)

REFEREE: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)

The Antrim team to play Laois in Saturday’s Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship in Parnell Park shows just one change from the team who beat Down in the Leinster Qualifying final at Dunsilly two weeks ago. Team captain Enda Og McGarry, who had to sit the last game out because of injury, is fully fit again and take his place at centre back, with Ronan Laverty, who pivoted the defence against Down, returning to his normal midfield post. Dairi Murphy, who filled in at midfield at Dunsilly returns to the half forward line with Conlith McKiernan stepping down to the bench.

Ahead of the game the Saffron Gael spoke to team manager Paudie Shivers and ask him about his thoughts on the win over Down and what lies ahead against Laois on Saturday

Down Game

“It was a strange game, a poor affair overall really if I am totally honest.

We flew out of the blocks and dominated the first half, and although the scoreboard read 0-13 to 1-00 we were probably a little frustrated that we didn’t bury the three or four goal chances we had, which would have well and truly finished the game off.

Then in the second half we just took the foot completely off the gas, played to the scoreboard, and really allowed them to gain some momentum. However as I said directly after the match, the boys responded when the challenge was put up to them again to take us home safely enough in the end.”

Preparation

The Glenann Primary School principal and Dunloy clubman added

“Since the last day we have prepared really well both on the field and in the gym. We have all our players apart from Finn Henry & Caoimhin Heaney (long-term injuries) who were ruled out of the Down game back in training and the atmosphere among the boys is fantastic.”

Laois

“Look, it is no secret the work that has been going on at underage in Laois over the last few years and when you are bringing people like Derek McGrath in to develop your underage structures then you obviously mean business. Olly Hally himself (Laois manager) is a top coach and they have a good setup in place.”

“However, as I said to you previously, we have really just focused on ourselves all season – been consistent with our preparation and taken every game as it comes.

The coaching team have prepared us in the best possible way and the boys are ready and looking forward to the challenge on Saturday.”

The young Saffrons played Laois last year in Navan and were totally outplayed. I remember that night travelling down and being very disappointed at the level of performance. However they appear to have been better prepared this season so I wait to see how things go on Saturday. Paudie Shivers and his backroom team of Arron Graffin, Gooch Gillan, Sean McManus, Aaron Smiley, Liam McLean, Siofra O’Mullan and Joe Clifford have worked really hard with this squad since last November. Everyone has bought into the whole programme so it will be interesting to see how they perform against a team of Laois’s quality.  It will definitely be a step up in class. Shivers and his team will be looking for a performance more along the lines of what they showed in the opening half against Down. What came at times in the second half would not be good enough, but they will have learned from that experience and should go into Saturday’s game in high spirits.

By John ‘Curly’ McIlwaine

There was something special about Saturday in Navan when Antrim secured their Division 1 status for the third year in a row by beating Offaly in the play-off at Pairc Tailteann.

At the end of the game the Saffron fans got onto the pitch to congratulate the players, chat with fellow fans, get pics taken and bask in the good feeling of victory. Incredibly that was the first time this season they got the chance to do that, for though the team had performed well for most of the season, they still hadn’t got across the line, and there is no felling like it.

We thought we had it that day in Portlaoise when we led Laois going into injury time, but somehow contrived to throw it away, but in truth it all worked out well in the end, and the performance on Saturday against Offaly, despite being short a few regular starters, gave the whole thing a massive lift.

By the time they are back in action again in three weeks’ time the panel should be stronger overall, and it will need to be as the run of games in the Joe McDonagh Cup, coming thick and fast as they do, will test the Saffron’s resources to the limit.

Leaving home on Saturday morning I have to say the confidence levels were not high, but when Keelan Molloy broke through the Offaly defence in the opening minute I knew they were in a good place. Keelan’s run did not bring a score, but it wasn’t long until James McNaughton had the umpire reaching for the green flag, and when Keelan got in for the second goal just on half-time you knew they were in a strong position.

Even the wobble at the start of the second half didn’t really dent the confidence, and they were soon back on the front foot and began to stretch clear again. The defence were solid with Eoghan Campbell leading the line as the pivot. Big Joe Maskey revelled in his new role at midfield while the young, and not so young, guns up front were raising sparks as they threw the ball around with James, Keelan, Coby and Clarkey outstanding. But overall everyone played their part, Big Domnhall’s catch and pass to start the move for the second goal, Conor McCann’s glorious point from out on the stand sideline, and Wee Con’s energy and drive.

Those who came on also played their part, Sammy’s point from his first possession, Seaan’s burst that led to the penalty, and Clarkey’s finish, even though it was disallowed for a marginal infringement. That little lesson learned could come in useful in the McDonagh Cup campaign.

Overall a great day. Navan is a great ground where you are always made to feel welcome, and the weather also played its part. My only tinge of regret was for Offaly’s greatest supporter Mick McDonagh who follows the Faithful County all around the country, standing on the bank or terracing behind the goals at every game they play. Next to the late Frank Hogan, who spread the gospel from the terraces with his yellow sign “John 3:7”,  and the Kerry legend Buff Egan, Mick is the most famous fan in the country.  As things turned out it was to be a bad weekend for Mick for the following day he had to watch the Offaly footballers being edged out by Cork in injury time in Tullamore in another league relegation game.

However he will be back to follow them again and no doubt we will see him in Corrigan Park in a few weeks’ time when they come up to play the Saffrons in the McDonagh Cup.