Ulster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final: Derry v Antrim (tomorrow, Athletic Grounds, 5pm)
ANTRIM joint manager Dominic McKinley and veteran Derry forward Ruairi Convery have both called for a major revamp of the Ulster Championship ahead of tomorrow evening’s semi-final meeting in Armagh.
Both counties come into the game with different objectives, but neither is exactly enthused by the prospect of possible provincial glory – with Convery describing the showdown as “a chore”.
The Oak Leafers have had a miserable year to date. Without 13 of the panel who helped them to a Christy Ring Cup final last June, Derry have lost every one of their nine competitive outings so far.
Dropping down from Division 2A of the National League was disappointing - relegation to the Nicky Rackard Cup next year was a disaster.
For the Saffrons, the focus is firmly on their June 25 Christy Ring Cup final replay with Meath, as the saga of the faulty scoreboard trundled on for far too long. Tomorrow’s game is a major inconvenience for Antrim at best, with the major concern avoiding picking up unnecessary knocks ahead of the Royal rumble at Croke Park.
For former Saffron stalwart McKinley, a man who well remembers the days when competing for the Liam Harvey Cup was a big deal rather than a burden, the time has come for a rethink.
And the Loughgiel man believes the introduction of a new challenger could provide some impetus.
“It’s seriously hard for people to get up for the Ulster Championship in general and it’s time to sit down with all the participants and work out what’s best for it, and what we need to do to make it better,” he said.
“I think you could maybe look at adding Westmeath or somebody into it – we have to look at all avenues because there’s nothing there. People don’t look at it as an honour.
“Everybody has ideas of when it should take place – it’s certainly no good where it is, and it’s certainly no good in Armagh at 5pm on a Sunday evening.”
For Convery, it is the time-frame which needs addressed first and foremost, with its current slot at the end of a long season - coming after competitions which now hold greater importance – the major issue.
He said: “It’s definitely not a priority for any player in Ulster.
“The Ulster Championship has lost all its meaning now, there’s no real benefit for the winners, bar a cup at the end of the day.
“Obviously players would like to win it – I don’t have too many medals from inter-county hurling – so it would be nice to win, but the timing needs to be looked at. There’s a gap between the League and the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard and it could possibly be played in there.
“At the minute, it’s the last thing on our minds. We just really want the whole thing to be finished. We play the best team in Ulster on Sunday now, and it’s hard to get motivated when we’ve lost every game so far this season.
“It seems more like a chore to get out and play the game this weekend.”
Tom McLean’s side have been down to the bare bones all year, and Swatragh ace Convery knows they face a huge task tomorrow, adding: “Mentally, we’re down at the minute. Physically, everybody’s sore. It’s very hard to get motivated.”
Antrim, meanwhile, will be without a host of players for tomorrow’s game, and the delayed replay against Meath.
Captain Conor Carson is in France at Euro 2016, goalkeeper Chrissy O’Connell is on holiday in Portugal, Ciaran Johnston is in America while brother Conor is set to follow suit in the coming days, and Cushendall’s Ryan McCambridge in also Stateside.
“There’s places up for grabs – we’ll be reshuffling with injury and people away, so I would say it’s an opportunity for some of the boys,” said McKinley.
“If they catch the eye they could be playing next Saturday.”
