FORMER Antrim hurling captain Karl McKeegan says he is “completely baffled” by players who don’t want to play for their county before heaping praise on the young guns who were desperately unlucky to lose to Kerry last weekend in their opening NHL game.
Resident centre-back McKeegan represented the Saffrons with distinction during the ‘Noughties’ and is delighted to be part of Neal Peden’s management team alongside Gary O’Kane, Jim Close and Darren Gleeson.
Missing the Cushendall contingent, St Enda’s Joe Maskey (club-tied) and Simon McCrory (injured), Antrim may have lost to Kerry on home soil but there was reason to be optimistic about the rest of their Division 2A campaign.
Reduced to 14 men in the early stages, Antrim trailed by 10 points after 23 minutes and looked dead and buried but two goals either side of half-time from Dunloy poacher Eoin O’Neill saw the home side mount a dramatic second-half comeback.
However, the Kerry men just held on to win by two points after a close-range James McNaughton free was turned over the bar.
“I’m absolutely disappointed,” said McKeegan.
“I don’t like this: ‘Well done’ because we still lost, but it is a young team. We have a core of four or five older boys and the rest of them are 21 and 22, maybe younger than that.
“Ronan Molloy and Conor McHugh are 18 or 19. .
“After 15 minutes I was wanting to climb the fence because I was thinking: ‘These aren’t the boys I’ve been working with.’
“The next thing they find a wee switch and they showed their character. That’s what I think is great about the young players – their character, and they are full of confidence, which I love. They’re not cocky, confident within themselves, but not cocky. They are great to work with.”
With so many absentees, Antrim’s options have been significantly reduced, but it has given great opportunities to younger member of the panel to make their mark.
“I have great admiration for anybody who wants to play for the county,” McKeegan added. “I just can’t understand the people who don’t want to play for their county. It completely baffles me.
“You’ll be a better player for it. But then you look at people like young Ronan Molloy [Dunloy]. In fairness we were short of numbers and we thought he’d be one for the future. But he’s been brilliant since he’s come in. It’s unfortunate he had to go off at half-time with an injury.”
Young Conor McHugh of Cushendun and Dunloy defender Phelim Duffin are both making strides in the early stages of the new season too, while Clooney Gaels attacker James O’Connell was one of a number of men who impressed from the bench against Kerry.
The loss of Nicky McKeague – red-carded after nine minutes – the heavy sod and Kerry’s greater physicality were key reasons why Antrim fell short by a couple of points at Corrigan Park.
“Our boys were moving great down in Abbotstown [in the Kehoe Cup], the pitch was like a carpet,” explained McKeegan.
“We warmed up for the Kerry game and the ground would take the legs out of anybody. That’s the first time those players have played on a heavy pitch against a physically strong team.
“We can use the excuse that we’re a light team but as the year progresses they’ll get used to this League. They’re doing their strength and conditioning work and they’re so keen to learn.”
On his own involvement, McKeegan was initially reluctant to be part of Peden's backroom team.
“I was to asked about getting involved and I initially said ‘no’, but Gary O’Kane phoned me and I went to talk to him and Neal [Peden] and the two of them convinced me straight away.
“I said I would give it a go. They said there was no pressure but since I’ve been in I’ve just made time and you cut out other things that you don’t need to be at.
“I’m absolutely loving it.
“I helped out Cushendall over the last couple of years and it gives you a buzz. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not an easy job, you’re working with all different characters, but I’m definitely enjoying the role."
