Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Round 5

Antrim v Carlow

Sunday 26 May

Throw in: 2pm

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

It’s all on the line this Sunday as Antrim welcome Carlow to Corrigan Park in a do-or-die clash with the Barrowsiders.  Just like last year, Antrim’s fate in the Leinster Championship and Liam McCarthy status for 2025 comes down to the last day.  Another performance like that against Westmeath in Mullingar would go a long, long way to securing that status.

It won’t be that easy though.  It never is against Carlow.  The last three meetings have been hellish close with Antrim claiming two wins in Corrigan and a draw in Netwatch Dr Cullen Park.  That draw came through the sheer belligerence of Domhnall Nugent to plough his way through a packed defence and hammer a last minute goal.

The last defeat against Carlow came in 2017 in the Christy Ring final.  There won’t be many who will need reminding about that game.  The games since have been full of incident and action.  The one constant?  Drama.

Sunday is the last outing of the year for Darren Gleeson’s side in a season where we hoped for a few more weeks.  The Antrim manager himself would tell you the same.  There was talk of targeting certain games to get the points required.  That win against Wexford soon eroded the painful memory of the trip to Kilkenny the week previous.  A second half capitulation against Dublin came before the game against Galway where Antrim can feel hard done-by.  Ultimately it was a defeat and it’s come down to this.  Carlow in what is effectively a relegation play-off.

The Barrowsiders have been making waves themselves this year.  As I pulled out of Parnell Park a few weeks ago after the Dublin game, I switched on the radio to hear whatever commentary there was available.  An attempt to forget what had transpired.  It brought news of Carlow taking Kilkenny deep and eventually getting a well earned share of the points.

They’ve put in good displays against Galway and Dublin and will certainly be disappointed with their display against Wexford where, had the results gone their way, they could have had their eyes on a bigger prize come Sunday.

But, like Antrim, the dice didn’t roll their way. 

So far, Marty Kavanagh has been at his mesmeric best from placed ball and leads the way for them in the scoring charts.  He has had plenty of support from the likes of Chris Nolan, Conor Kehoe and Paddy Boland.  With Richard Coady still pulling the strings and the likes of James Doyle coming off the bench, Antrim will need to get their match-ups sorted.  Looking back on my notes from the previous matches against Carlow, it was Doyle who scored 4 goals against us in Croke Park in the Christy Ring final (three in the last 10 minutes of the first half) and while he did little in Corrigan Park the following year, the battle he had with Woody McKinley was fantastic viewing.  Carlow ploughed every high ball his way and Woody was relishing the challenge.

Back to Sunday.

Antrim will be without Ryan McGarry who got a red card against Galway.  I won’t get into that one again but it was a ridiculous call and that’s all I’ll say on that matter.  Who they bring in may not be just as straight forward.  Eoghan Campbell could drop a little deeper and play McGarry’s role, allowing Michael Bradley to start, fitness permitting.  That would be my call with little other changes to note.  If Conal Cunning’s recovered from the injury that saw him sidelined against Galway then he may come in for Rian McMullan who didn’t get much joy from the Tribesmen.  I think ‘Bubbles’ is better suited as an impact sub, a finisher rather than starting but trying to second guess what team Gleeson puts out has proven to be extremely difficult and the chances are I could be way off the mark!  There are injury concerns with those mention with Campbell having to come off early against Galway along with Conall Bohill.

One thing is for sure, it’s going to take a massive effort against Carlow to ensure Antrim stay at the top-table.  The Saffrons seem to rise to a different level while playing at Corrigan Park and they’ll need to do that again on Sunday.  In the past week, Gleeson has gone on record asking for a massive support to turn out for his team and show Carlow what all the fuss is about when it comes to playing his Antrim side in Corrigan.  It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride for Gleeson’s side this year and Sunday is not a given.  Antrim will be up against a quality side who last year showed their battling championship qualities, coming from the brink in the McDonagh Cup final to defeat Offaly.  Antrim will give it everything they have, we need to give them all we have too.  Go to Corrigan Park on Sunday, be the 16^th man.  Bring the noise, create the atmosphere. 

Be.  The.  Difference.

Saffrons Abu

Previous meetings with Carlow….

2017 vs Carlow – Christy Ring Cup

Antrim 4-15 Carlow 5-23

TEAMS

Antrim: Chrissy O’Connell; Simon McCrory; John Dillon; Stephen Rooney; Ciaran Johnston; Paddy Burke; Arron Graffin; Conor McKinely (0-1); Paul Shiels (0-1); Neal McAuley; Conor McCann; Eoghan Campbell (1-00); Conor Johnston; Neil McManus (1-2, 1-1 free); Ciaran Clarke (2-9, 7 frees, 1 ’65)

Subs: Niall McKenna for N McAuley (26 mins); Daniel McKernan (0-1) for C McCann; Paddy McGill (0-1) for P Shiels (48 mins); Matthew Donnelly for J Dillon (50 mins); Conal Cunning for Conor Johnston (67 mins)

Carlow: James O’Carroll; Alan Corcoran; Paul Doyle; Gary Bennett; Richard Coady; David English; Richard Kelly (0-1); Jack Kavanagh; Diarmuid Byrne (0-3); John Michael Nolan (0-2); Martin Kavanagh 1-3, 1 free); James Doyle (4-1); Denis Murphy (0-11, 11 frees) Eddie Byrne; Paul Coady (0-1)

Subs: Kevin McDonald for J Kavanagh (43 mins); Chris Nolan (0-1) for P Coady (46 mins); Seamus Murphy for D Byrne (58 mins); Jack Murphy for D Murphy (68 mins); Seán Whelan for J Doyle (inj)

2018 vs Carlow – McDonagh Cup

Antrim 2-16 Carlow 0-19

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, John Dillon, Conor McKinley; Joe Maskey, Paddy Burke, Ryan McCambridge; Eoghan Campbell, Simon McCrory; Nigel Elliott, Conor Johnston, Neil McManus; Donal McKinley, Michael Armstrong, Conor McCann

Subs: James McNaughton for D McKinley (46); Eddie McCloskey for C McCann (59); David Kearney for J Maskey (60); Neal McAuley for R McCambridge (inj); Conor Carson for M Armstrong (inj)

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Alan Corcoan, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; Richard Coady, David English, Dairmuid Byrne; Jack Kavanagh, Kevin McDonald; John-Michael Nolan, Paul Coady, Edward Byrne; James Doyle, Denis Murphy, Ross Smither

Subs: Chris Nolan for R Smithers (46); Dion Wall for M Doyle (62); Jack Murphy for E Byrne (67); Conor Foley for P Coady (inj); Seamus Murphy for D Murphy (inj)

Scorers for Antrim: Neil McManus 1-8 (7f); Nigel Elliott 1-2; Conor Johnston 0-2 (1f); Michael Armstrong 0-1; Joe Maskey 0-1; Eoghan Campbell 0-1; Eddie McCloskey 0-1

Scorers for Carlow: Denis Murphy 0-11 (7f); James Doyle 0-2; John-Michael Nolan 0-2; Chris Nolan 0-2; Conor Foley 0-2

2020 vs Carlow – McDonagh Cup

Antrim 5-16 Carlow 2-25

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, 1-5f, 0-1 65).

SUBS: James McNaughton (1-0) for Dan McCloskey (46), Domhnall Nugent (1-0) for Ryan McGarry (53), Damon McMullan for Stephen Rooney (58), Aodhán O’Brien for Gerard Walsh (62)

CARLOW: Brian Tracey, Michael Doyle, Paul Doyle, Gary Bennett, Ger Coady, David English, Richard Coady, Jack Kavanagh (0-3), Paul Coady, John Michael Nolan (1-1), Diarmuid Byrne (0-1), Edward Byrne (1-2), Martin Kavanagh (0-7, 0-4f), Kevin McDonald (0-2), Ted Joyce (0-2).

SUBS: John Nolan (0-2) for Richard Coady (HT), Chris Nolan (0-5) for Ted Joyce (40), Aaron Amond for Paul Coady (61), Cathal Tracey for Jack Kavanagh (71)

2022 vs Carlow – McDonagh Cup

Antrim 2-22 Carlow 1-22

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Gerard Walsh, Niall O’Connor; Paddy Burke, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; Joe Maskey, James McNaughton; Seaan Elliott, Domhnall Nugent, Conor McCann; Conal Cunning, Ciaran Clarke, Neil McManus

Subs: Michael Bradley for J McNaughton (46); Eoin O’Neill for N McManus (50); Daniel McKernan for D Nugent (56); Niall McKenna for C McCann (62); Aaron Bradley for J Maskey (inj)

Scorers: C Cunning 1-11 (10 f’s); S Elliott 0-3; N McManus 1-00; C Clarke 0-2; P Burke 0-2; C Bohill 0-2; J Maskey 0-1; E O’Neill 0-1

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor, Michael Doyle; Jack McCullagh, Diarmuid Byrne, Richard Coady; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Conor Kehoe; Sean Murphy, Chris Nolan, Kevin McDonald; John Michael Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, Paul Coady

Subs: Jon Nolan for K McDonald (63); John Doyle for S Murphy (inj)

Scorers: M Kavanagh 0-11 (9f’s); C Nolan 1-4 (1f); K McDonald 0-2; D Byrne 0-1; R Coady 0-1; F Fitzpatrick 0-1; JM Nolan 0-1; C Kehoe 0-1

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Group Stage – Game 3

Antrim 1-18 Dublin 3-32

Saturday 11 May

Brendan McTaggart reports from Parnell Park, Dublin

It’s the hope that kills you.  As Dublin tore Antrim apart in the second half, playing like a prime Limerick, the realisation of the the Saffrons hopes if not expectations being trampled over began to sink in.

It was a hard watch in that second 35 minutes.  When the P.A. announced four additional minutes at the end of the game it felt like our emotions were being toyed with. 

Antrim travelled to Parnell Park buoyant and confident.  They left with a plethora of questions remaining unanswered and their championship hopes hanging by a thread.

It was supposed to be different.  The euphoria of that infamous Wexford victory feels like a long, long time ago right now.

For what it’s worth, that hope that I speak of was still prevalent going into the final quarter.  Maybe just slightly outside of touching distance, Antrim trailed by six points in the 58^th minute after Seaan Elliott fired over his third point of the game.  It was a brilliant score and roused the sizeable Antrim support in attendance.  The Dublin response was emphatic to the point where it was a savage knockout blow.  By the time Conal Cunning fired over his fourth free of the match in the 65^th minute, the home side had recorded 2-3 to take the game away from Antrim.  They cruised through the time that remained as Antrim looked for goals to try and get some sort of way back into the game, it was just never for coming.

The game started in the worse possible fashion for Darren Gleeson’s men with Paul Crummey scoring the opening goal of the game with barely 10 seconds on the clock.  The sliotar coming into the edge of the square from a Conor Burke delivery and Crummey managed to get a hand up to deflect the sliotar beyond Ryan Elliott.

Antrim did recover and started busily in that opening quarter.  They were getting plenty of ball into the full forward line but nothing was ‘sticking’ to make an impact on the scoreboard.

With Donal Burke and Sean Currie imperious, Dublin opened up a 10 point lead as early as the 23^rd minute.  Antrim’s attacking unit flattering to deceive with a number of missed frees – admittedly from long range and efforts dropping short doing little to help their cause.

The Saffrons goal came in the 28^th minute through James McNaughton.  It came at the end of a superb piece of play that involved swift and precise passing, Nigel Elliott involved twice in the move with Ryan McGarry and Eoghan Campbell.  McNaughton still had plenty to do and showed the same willingness and determination that we seen against Wexford to get his half yard of space before finding the back of the net.

The hope was there again and rekindling thoughts of pulling a win out of the bag.

The home side led 1-13 to 1-6 at the break and with whatever wind blowing in their favour, Antrim made a bright start to the second half.  Indeed, by the time the clock ticked into the 40^th minute the difference was reduced to four with Keelan Molloy (2), Nigel Elliott and Gerard Walsh all finding their range.

To get anything in Parnell Park for those in Saffron, you need an element of luck.  Lady luck seemed to not only dessert us, she laughed in our faces for the next couple of minutes.  Antrim were looking more like themselves.  There was an air of deliverance coming but twice the sliotar came back off the upright in two separate attacks from Coby Cunning.  The second hitting both uprights before falling to the nearest Dublin defender.

The sides were evenly matches for the next 15 minutes or so, Antrim starting to score in bunches with Eoghan Campbell, Walsh and Cunning on target while Donal Burke, Currie and Fergal Whitely were keeping the scoreboard ticking for the Dubs.

Antrim’s undoubted score of the game came in the 58^th minute when Conall Bohill rose superbly to claim the sliotar above the Dublin challenges and laid his pass into the path of Seaan Elliott.  The Dunloy man fired over to reduce the deficit to six and Antrim had their tails up.

That was as good as it got.

Dublin found another gear thereafter, almost riled at the thought of these Antrim upstarts coming to their patch and trying to get the win, Dublin purred and Antrim wilted.

Their second goal came from the brilliant Brian Hayes after good work from substitute Ronan Hayes put him through on goal.  Points followed from Donal Burke (free) and Currie before Donal Burke scored his sides third major of the game.  A sumptuous strike from a placed ball that caught those on the Antrim line by surprise.

That hope was disintegrated and crumbled upon the pristine like surface of Parnell Park.

Dublin unloaded the bench, their challenge never waivered.  Antrim lobbed high ball to the edge of the square, hoping for a break.  That break never came.

20 points the difference by the time referee Kevin Jordan called for an end to the Dublin exhibition in the closing minutes.  Antrim trudged off the Parnell Park pitch deflated and bewildered at what had just happened.

It is the hope that kills you!

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Niall O’Connor, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Gerard Walsh, Conor Boyd, Conall Bohill; Seaan Elliott, Eoghan Campbell; Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton; Conal Cunning, Niall McKenna, Aodhan O’Brien

Subs: Joseph McLaughlin for A O’Brien (47); Paul Boyle for K Molloy (50); Fred McCurry for C Boyd (55); Christy McGarry for N McKenna (61); Sean McKay for C Cunning (65)

Scorers: J McNaughton 1-2; C Cunning 0-4 (4 f’s); S Elliott 0-3; E Campbell 0-3; K Molloy 0-2; G Walsh 0-2 (1 f); N Elliott 0-1; Fred McCurry 0-1

Dublin: Sean Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle; Chris Crummey, Conor Donohue, Eoghan O’Donnell; Brian Hayes, Conor Burke; Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Sean Currie; Fergal Whitely, Cian O’Sullivan, Paul Crummey

Subs: Ronan Hayes for P Crummey (47); Darragh Power for D Sutcliffe (60); James Madden for C Crummey (65); Jake Malone for C O’Sullivan (65); Sean Gallagher for B Hayes (68)

Scorers: D Burke 1-11 (1-9 f’s); S Currie 0-5; C Burke 0-4; P Crummey 1-00; B Hayes 1-00; C O’Sullivan 0-2; J Bellew 0-2; R Hayes 0-2; D Power 0-2; C Donohue 0-1; D Sutcliffe 0-1; F Whitely 0-1; S Gallagher 0-1

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Antrim v Wexford

Date: Saturday 27 April 2024

Venue: Corrigan Park, Belfast – Throw In: 3pm

Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to the Saffrons clash with Wexford in the Leinster Championship

Antrim’s Leinster Championship journey see’s them welcome Wexford to Corrigan Park on Sunday after what is certain to have been a soul-searching week for Darren Gleeson’s men.

While Antrim tasted defeat against Kilkenny, Wexford will have come away from their opening round match against Dublin with a feeling of loss given how their match ended.  Two goals in injury time at the end of the 70 minutes from Danny Sutcliffe and Cian O’Sullivan gave the Dubs a share of the spoils.  With Lee Chin looking at his ridiculous best and ably assisted by Rory O’Connor with the likes of Conor McDonald coming off the bench in that game, this is sure to be another huge task for the Saffrons.

When these sides last met at Corrigan Park, it was one of the great games of the modern day that had everything.  It finished in a draw with Keelan Molloy sending over an equalizing score in the depths of injury time to send the limited numbers in Corrigan Park into a frenzy and the teams with a share of the league points.  It was a helter-skelter game of hurling and one you daren’t take your eyes off.  Red cards, side line ‘discussions’, huge scores and brilliant turnovers.  It was a game that Antrim rallied in the second half having trailed by five at half time but looked to have lost their momentum with the second half water break (thank God they’re no longer in the game).

It was a match that no one really wanted to finish but a match that no one deserved to lose.  For all of Antrim’s brilliance in that second half, Wexford were equally as good in the first.

When the sides met in the Leinster Championship last year in Wexford Park, the home side took the honors with four points separating the sides (1-30 to 1-26).  It was another game where Antrim started poorly and trailed by nine at half time (1-19 to 1-10) but a super second half saw them reel the yellow bellies in and the home side had to rely on late scores from Rory O’Connor and Richie Lawler at the death to fend off the Saffrons charge.

From the 15 that started that league game three years ago, Antrim will have seven changes for the weekend and three from the Kilkenny match.  Gerard Walsh and Conor Boyd come into the half back line with Keelan Molloy starting on the three-quarter line the changes from the last Sunday – Michael Bradley, Scott Walsh and Phelim Duffin taking their place on the list of substitutions named.

Having looked back and had some more time to digest the Kilkenny game, the home side’s execution of their own game plan was phenomenal whereas Antrim’s fell well short of what Gleeson and his backroom team would demand of them. 

Both teams set up similarly and went about their business likewise but where Kilkenny were excellent at finding the runners or man in space, too often Antrim’s delivery of ball into the final third was short or fumbled.  While you have to tip your hat to Kilkenny and Derek Lyng for how they went about their business, it just wasn’t good enough from an Antrim perspective.  It’s a game of risk and reward.  We’ve seen them get plenty of reward in recent times and when it comes off, it’s brilliant.  Last Sunday was the polar opposite.

There weren’t many who made the journey up the road again last Sunday with a plus mark beside their name.  James McNaughton, Eoghan Campbell and Nigel Elliott showed glimpses of quality but the manner of the second half capitulation was hugely worrying.

While Kilkenny were relentless, too many of those in a Saffron jersey were found wanting.  It was a chastening defeat and one that Gleeson will be looking for a reaction from.  It’s one that we all want to see a reaction from.   

Antrim Team vs Wexford: Ryan Elliott; Niall O’Connor, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Gerard Walsh, Conor Boyd, Conal Bohill; Eoghan Campbell, Seaan Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton; Conal Cunning, Niall McKenna, Conor McCann

Wexford team vs Dublin:

Mark Fanning; Shane Reck, Niall Murphy, Matthew O’Hanlon; Simon Donohoe, Damien Reck, Conor Foley; Conor Hearne, Liam Og McGovern; Cathal Dunbar, Kevin Foley, Rory O’Connor; Richie Lawlor, Lee Chin, Seamus Casey

Scorers: Lee Chin 1-12 (1-00 pen, 9f’s); Rory O’Connor 0-4; Mark Fanning 0-1; Conor Hearne 0-1; Cathal Dunbar 0-1; Conor McDonald 0-1; Cian Byrne 0-1

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Antrim v Kilkenny

Sunday 21 April

Venue: Nowlan Park

Throw In: 2:30pm

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)

Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Sunday’s championship game with Kilkenny as Antrim begin their Leinster campaign.

As far as Championship openers come, they don’t come more difficult than a trip to Nowlan Park.  That’s the task that faces Antrim hurlers on Sunday afternoon as they begin their 2024 Leinster Championship with a trip to Kilkenny.

Playing the hurling aristocrats, All-Ireland finalists and National League finalists in their own back yard.  It’s a far cry from the days of travelling to the likes of Wicklow and playing in a field that definitely could have been doing with the lawn mower down a nick (or three) and more players in the panels combined than spectators… no offence to the good people of Wicklow.

That’s the journey that Antrim have come through in recent years.  It’s easy to forget that but sometimes, you have to take stock before going again.

The column inches that have been filled regarding the injuries this year has been mind-boggling, not to mention those who wanted (if not, needed) a well-deserved break.  On that front, things have “Improved dramatically” – the words of team manager, Darren Gleeson.

After the press release last month where it gave the details of the injuries, when we spoke with Gleeson, he confirmed: “Gerard (Walsh), Stephen Rooney, Rian McMullan, Keelan (Molloy), Conal Bohill, James McNaughton, Michael Bradley are all available again.  A massive bonus that they’re back and ready for the Championship.  Conor McCann and Coby (Conal Cunning) were both nursing knocks but have come through those as well and are on the right side of things. 

“You throw in the likes of Ryan Elliott, Nigel and Seaan (Elliott) who have come back and we definitely feel like we’re in a good place.  Seaan’s coming back from a nasty ankle injury himself but he’s fit and available.”

The injury table hasn’t been cleared, however.  Ballycastle duo Seamus McAuley and Ciaran Clarke are a couple of weeks short but it’s better news on Loughgiel’s Paul Boyle: “It’s better news with Paul.  All the lads went through a screening check set up by the GAA and GPA at the start of the year.  It showed an irregularity with Paul’s heart and we’ve been following the medical advice to get him sorted.  He went through a minor procedure but unfortunately it didn’t take, he went through it again in the last 10 days or so and thank God it’s done the business.

“It’s been a hugely worrying and stressful time for Paul and his family.  Paul’s as fit as a fiddle and a wonderful player.  He had a brilliant club championship and was excellent for us last year.  He’ll be back in full training next week.”

Gleeson and his team are not long back on Irish shores having spent some time in Portugal for an intense, warm-weather training camp.  Something that seems to be the ‘norm’ these days but as the Portroe native informed us, Antrim did things a little differently: “It was hugely beneficial and when you look at the weather recently, it couldn’t have been better timed with our training pitches being closed.

“You look at counties going out to Portugal and the likes for training, they’re being heavily funded by sponsors and the likes.  But these lads and fair play to the footballers as well, they’ve done the fundraising themselves with a contribution from the county board.

“I think this is what makes it more worthwhile.”

The Saffrons last competitive game will be five weeks ago this weekend when Tipperary came to Corrigan Park.  While getting some of the walking wounded back on the pitch, Gleeson told us that they managed to get a couple of challenge games in: “We did have challenge games against Offaly in Abbotstown and Down in Jordanstown.  They were brilliant for us in terms of getting lads game time who had been injured.  Nothing beats game time in legs in preparation for the Championship.  Some of the lads who had been injured probably still need some game time and they’re going back to their clubs this weekend.”

He continued: “Rory McCloskey took a knock and is feeling the effects of a dead leg.  We’re monitoring him ahead of Sunday.

“He’s been a real shining light this year in at full back.  It’s his second year in the squad and he’s been a huge positive for us.  We’ll give him every chance before naming the team.”

On the trip to Kilkenny, you got the sense that Gleeson is relishing the chance to pit his Antrim side against Derek Lyng’s Cats: “Some might see it as daunting but it’s a wonderful opportunity.  Playing Kilkenny in Nowlan Park in championship setting, a championship atmosphere.  We’ve got the chance to pit ourselves against the League finalists and runners up of the All-Ireland last year.

“We’re massive underdogs, you just have to look at the match in Corrigan last year but we’re concentrating on getting our own performance right.  You know what Kilkenny are going to bring; they have savage intensity and savage work rate.  You have to match that before you even think about getting anything from the game.”

Since this interview, the team has been named with six of the starting 15 not playing any league games and a further two on the bench.  The starting 15 certainly has a more familiar feel to it with Ryan McGarry dropping back a line and Ryan Elliott returning to goals.  Conal Bohill joins Eoghan Campbell and Scott Walsh at half back while James McNaughton partners Niall O’Connor in midfield.  Michael Bradley makes a welcome return from a long term shoulder injury to start on the three quarter line with Nigel Elliott and Niall McKenna while Conor McCann will line out on the edge of the square where he’ll have Conal Cunning and Seaan Elliott on either side.

On Friday 5th April, the Antrim Hurlers Golf Day at the DoubleTree Belfast Templepatrick at the Kingfisher Country Estate proved another big success with fantastic support shown by hurling fans throughout the county. The entire team would like to thank everyone who took part including the very generous businesses and people who sponsored including the main sponsors of the day, Bourke Sports, Casement Social Club and Philip Christie.

Without the support of the sponsors on the day, it would not have been possible:

The results from the day were:

First Placed Team
Ortus (Seamus O’Prey)
Prize: 4x 43” TV’s

Runners Up
McCloskey Contracts
Prize: 4 x £100 Vouchers for the Hilton Pro Shop

Third Placed Team
Declan McKerr (Dante’s)
Prize: A Hilton 4x Ball

Fourth Placed Team
McCollam Marine
Prize: x4 Custom made Antrim hurls

11th hole Par 3 raffle winner
Matthew Nelson – drawn out
Prize: Overnight stay for 2 at the Hilton + Dinner & Spa

Nearest the pin winner
Brendan McSparren (pictured above)
Prize: RPM Motors – 1 Full car service + 1 Gold Car valet

Longest drive winner
Noel Rooney
Prize: £100 Voucher for the Hilton Pro Shop + O’Neill’s jersey of your choice

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