LEINSTER SHC ANTRIM v DUBLIN:ANTRIM WEREN'T expecting a wholly magnanimous welcome into the Leinster hurling championship, but the least they expected was a run-out in Croke Park.
Sunday’s historic showdown with Dublin may be Antrim’s biggest match all summer – and a rare outing at GAA headquarters – and to ensure no stone was left unturned they staged a sort of dress rehearsal in Croke Park yesterday evening.
The only problem was they weren’t actually allowed on to the pitch. They could have a wander about alright, but were told “stay off the grass”. If they wanted any further incentive to upstage Dublin’s headline act on Sunday – with both the hurlers and footballers on show – this may well be it.
“It’s a strange one,” says Antrim joint manager Dominic McKinley. “They let the soccer and rugby teams in for their preparation, but they won’t let us in, their own people. I certainly don’t agree with it. The words I have for it, you wouldn’t want to print. But you can imagine them.
“It’s nothing to do with Dublin, obviously. Someone high up in Croke Park must have come up with it. All we wanted was a 20-minute workout. A lot of our players have never been in Croke Park before, and I think the avenue of a run-out should have been left open. Particularly to your own players, your own people. At the end of the day, Croke Park was built by the people. Everybody owns it.
“But we’re not being let on the field, for some regulation or another. We’ll have to make do with the fringes of Croke Park, the changing rooms and that. But the weather is so good they’d nothing to worry about. Even the Saturday evening would have done us. But that’s said and done. We’ll get on with it.”
And for good reason – McKinley and his cohort Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton had been canvassing for Antrim’s inclusion in the Leinster hurling championship for the past few years, and they aren’t going to allow the issue upset their hopes for a good show on Sunday.
“We were the ones pushing for it all along, Sambo and myself,” adds McKinley. “And I think it’s something that needs to be extended to our underage teams as well. I know some counties in Leinster are still aggrieved that we are there, but in time I think that will go away, and people will appreciate what we’re all just trying to help each other, because that’s what hurling people do.
“But that’s why it’s so important we go in there on Sunday and show people how good we can be, that we deserve to be there.
“There’s a bit of hype about Dublin hurling as well, and that raises the appetite. It’s good for Dublin hurling and I’m delighted to see them progressing. I just hope they don’t have one of the better days on Sunday.”
All the pressure is on Dublin particularly as the bookies are posting them at 1/7 on and Antrim as 5/1 outsiders. McKinley chuckles at the mention of this, realising the championship can often make a mockery of such odds.
“Well that’s up to the bookies, but I’m sure our players will have a few bob on themselves. Why not? I think in a two-horse race, anything can happen. The championship is all about what you do on the day, making the right decisions. And I believe if we make the right decisions, cope with the occasion and all that, we’re in with a good shout.
“Dublin and Antrim are always keenly contested. We beat them two years ago. They beat us handy enough last year.
“We’re a young team, though, average age between 19 to 23, and I know from my own playing days, players react differently to the big stage. Some up their performance, and others don’t quite cope. But that’s something we’re trying to address, trying to get it right. We also had an up and down league.
“But we’re really looking forward to Sunday, and have been from the very start of the year. . . This has been planned for months and months, and we’re just disappointed for the injured players that don’t make it.”
That includes three of Antrim’s more seasoned players: Paul Shiels (long-term hip injury), Brendan Herron (broken bone in his foot), Ciarán Herron (hamstring strain); but on the flipside Johnny Campbell is back from injury, as is Paddy McGill.
Dublin’s main absentee is regular centre back Ronan Fallon, who has failed to make a full recovery from the fractured metatarsal in his left foot sustained during the final league outing against Kilkenny. In the meantime, David Sweeney recently returned to the panel after a two-year absence and is in line to play some role on Sunday.
Tickets for the Sunday’s Croke Park double-header are on sale today, tomorrow and Friday from the GAA Ticket Office, 53 Lower Dorset Street (9.30am to 5.30pm).
GAA fixtures
Today
Munster Under-21 HC Quarter-final:Tipperary v Cork, Thurles, 7.30pm, P Casey (Waterford).
Saturday
Ulster SFC Quarter-final: Cavan v Fermanagh, Breffni Park, 5.30pm, R Hickey (Clare).
Christy Ring Cup Semi-finals:Down v Mayo, Newry, 3.30pm, A Stapleton (Laois); Carlow v Kerry, Dr Cullen Park, 3.30pm, T Carroll (Offaly).
Nicky Rackard Cup (Round One);Roscommon v Fingal, Athleague,
3.30pm, J Healy (Clare); Sligo v Meath, Markievicz Park, 3.30pm, P Green (Galway); Armagh v London, Athletic Grounds, 4.30pm, E Hassen (Derry); Louth v Monaghan, Dundalk, 3.30pm, B Sweeny (Cavan).
Lory Meagher Cup (Round One):Warwickshire v Longford, Páirc na hÉireann, 3.30pm, J Devlin (Tyrone); Fermanagh v Leitrim, Enniskillen, 1.30pm, G Devlin (Armagh); Tyrone v Down, Omagh, 3.30pm, G Duffy (Antrim); Donegal v Cavan, Letterkenny, 3.30pm, O Elliott (Antrim).
Sunday
Leinster SHC Quarter-final:Dublin v Antrim, Croke Park, 2pm, J McGrath (Westmeath).
Leinster SFC Quarter-final:Dublin v Meath, Croke Park, 4pm, M Duffy (Sligo).
Munster SFC Semi-finals:Kerry v Cork, Killarney, 2pm, M Deegan (Laois); Clare v Limerick, Ennis, 4pm, P McGovern (Galway).
Munster JFC Semi-finals:Kerry v Cork, Killarney, noon, M Condon (Waterford); Clare v Limerick, Ennis, 2pm, P Sheehy (Kerry).
