Allianz National Football League Division Four: Antrim v Wexford (tomorrow, 2pm, Corrigan Park)
IF Antrim’s Division Four campaign is to be triumphant, if they are to win promotion and make it to Croke Park in April, then the outcome from Wexford’s visit to Corrigan Park tomorrow could be pivotal.
Everything positive that they have done over the past couple of months, all the optimism that has been created; this is the acid test of it all.
Wexford come with a reputation. They are the side that find themselves now languishing in Division Four with everyone looking at them and asking ‘how?’
Four years ago, they had Dublin on the ropes in Leinster until, not for the last time, a goal from substitute Kevin McManamon edged the All-Ireland champions of both then and now away.
Jason Ryan left that winter after five years in charge and the entire thing seems to have crumbled since then.
They now find themselves on the bottom rung of the ladder, and any notions they might have about cakewalking their way off it again were quickly dispelled by Leitrim last weekend.
The Yellowbellies found themselves trailing for much of the game and needed a late burst, included an injury-time winning free from Donal Shanley, to start off with the narrowest of wins.
Brian Malone has been handed the captain’s armband following the retirement of Graeme Molloy, while Daithi Waters made his return to action as a substitute last weekend after throwing his lot in with the hurlers last year. He may come into their starting XV for tomorrow.
PJ Banville is also back on board after spending last year travelling, and he was introduced for the last 20 minutes last weekend.
James and Tiernan Rossiter was also called on in the dying minutes.
They are minus Ciarán Lyng, who is set to miss most of the League through injury.
Michael Furlong, Shane Roche and Joey Wadding all missed their first outing, though the latter is the most likely to come into contention.
It’s possible that David Power will bring whatever big guns he can in from the start. This is primed to be a crucial game for them too.
There is something vulnerable about them. The former Tipperary minor boss has gone down the route of introducing youth, and that is where Antrim may hold an edge.
Following an impressive opening day win down in Carlow – where their campaign was halted so suddenly twelve months previous – Frank Fitzsimons and Gearoid Adams have named an unchanged line-up.
There remains a doubt over captain Kevin Niblock after he had to go off early in the second half last weekend after suffering a dead leg.
Their returnees have been well enough documented by this stage. Michael McCann paid particularly early dividends with 0-5 from play in a superb display in Carlow.
Niall McKeever’s sheer determination to get the better of the vaunted Brendan Murphy last week led to two yellow cards for the pair of them, but that will hardly have displeased the Antrim management at all.
He is available and will more than likely be around the middle wearing 14 again, with Sean McVeigh and Conor Murray creating a trio across the centre.
Martin Johnson and Paddy McBride are also back in contention to come off the bench.
If Niblock is fit, Antrim’s attack looks to have enough about it to really test Wexford’s promotion credentials.
The Saffrons look as well positioned as they have in a while. This is a big afternoon. They may just get the big result.
Antrim: C Kerr; K O’Boyle, Conor Burke, James Lavery; John Carron, J Crozier, Paddy McAleer; S McVeigh, Conor Murray; Matthew Fitzpatrick, M McCann, M Sweeney; K Niblock, N McKeever, T McCann
