ANTRIM’S U21 footballers will enter the Celtic Park arena without fear on Wednesday, according to selector Conor McCann.
The Saffrons go into their preliminary round clash with Derry as outsiders, but they’ll not be found wanting either in their belief they can cause an upset: “Anything can happen on the night. Games twist and turn and they can turn on the kick of a ball at any stage,” said McCann.
“We will be going in as underdogs, but we don’t mind going in with the tag of being underdogs. We’re well prepared and we firmly believe as a management that all the lads have it well within their capability of giving Derry a game. So we’re looking forward to it. We’re not going in confident, but we’re not going to show them undue respect either.”
Preparations have been hampered by the involvement of players elsewhere, commitments to other teams restricting their time with the U21s. But the squad has gradually grown to full strength over the past few weeks and morale is high in the camp.
“It has been a tough year for ourselves because we have had St John’s involved in the U21 Club Championship, we have had boys from Creggan involved in All-Ireland hurling and we have had boys involved in Freshers football. But in saying that, all the training has been good, everything is buzzing and we have a good feeling about the place at the minute and training has been going really well.”
Manager Sean McGoldrick and his assistant McCann have been in charge of the Antrim minor team for the past three years, moving up to the U21s this season. They have come into the job with an in-depth knowledge of, and a positive working relationship with, the players.
“This year, we have moved up the U21s and the way it’s working, we have a good mix from those three years and we know their strengths and their weaknesses," McCann added.
“We have a strong belief in them, they’re good, capable footballers, physical footballers and they have good lifestyles and look after themselves well.”
It’s the second year in-a-row Antrim have had to play away. Last season, they lost heavily to Armagh in a rearranged tie. This time around, they feel they are better prepared. Senior panellists Oisin Nugent of Glenavy and Lamh Dearg’s Domhnall Nugent will lead the Saffron challenge, while Creggan attacker Ruairi McCann is capable of troubling the Oak Leaf defence.
The first round ties take place next week, with Ulster and All-Ireland champions Tyrone taking on another powerful force, Cavan: “They’re two very strong teams, but one of them will be gone by the first round," McCann said.
“It will open the competition up, but Donegal will not be far off the mark as well, they’re very strong."
