ANTRIM hurler Simon McCrory has backed the younger members of the senior squad to come up to the mark this season.
The Saffrons have made an encouraging start to their Allianz NHL Division 2A campaign, beating London in their opener at Corrigan Park before grabbing a share of the spoils in Carlow on February 19.
They host Kildare in Cushendall this Sunday as they bid to gain promotion this season.
“There are a lot of guys that don’t have a lot of inter-county experience and they’re going to need time and people will need to be patient,” said McCrory, a Christy Ring Allstar in 2016.
“And the senior players are going to have to bring them along and help guide them because I remember when I came into the panel at 18 or 19, it was the likes of Ciaran Herron, Malachy Molloy and Karl McKeegan who helped me."
The St John’s man added: “Now, as older fella on the panel, we have to do the same. It’s a young squad but very, very capable.
“I’ve seen a lot of them playing for their clubs and at minor and U21 for the county.
"No doubt they have the ability, but senior is a huge step up, but I believe they will push on.”
Antrim’s teak-tough wing-back also acknowledged the return of experienced performers Paul Shiels and Niel McManus has lifted morale in the camp.
“It’s huge to have the likes of ‘Shorty’ and Neil McManus back. They are two boys that weren’t there last year. It’s not just their hurling ability they are senior lads on the panel; they’ve been there and they’re leaders. They set an example.
“That’s what we missed last year and they’ll be indispensable for us this year.”
ANTRIM hurler Neil McManus hopes to be back in action within the next month after suffering a fractured cheekbone in the team’s challenge game against Tipperary at the end of January.
Doctors told him he could be out for up to 12 weeks but McManus is feeling more optimistic about the injury and estimates a return between “two to four weeks”.
Antrim face Kildare this weekend before facing Armagh on March 12 and Westmeath on March 26.
ANTRIM’S rookie defender Eunan Walsh says the step up to senior level has been “massive” – but the Aghgallon clubman has every faith he can get some game-time in the footballers’ Division Three campaign this year.
Highly-rated by joint managers Frank Fitzsimons and Gearoid Adams, the 19-year-old Walsh has had run-outs against St Mary’s and Monaghan in the Dr McKenna Cup and has been bolstered by Dundalk IT’s Trench Cup triumph last month where he played wing-half back for Oisin McConville’s side.
“The step up to senior level is massive,” said Walsh.
“For me anyway, the physicality is just at a different level. It’s probably one thing I know that I have to work on without damaging any other parts of my game.”
Walsh is joined on the Antrim senior football panel by club-mates Pat Brannigan, Oisin Lenaghan and Ruairi McCann.
“It’s been a successful year with my club [Aghgallon] winning an intermediate championship and getting back up into Division One and the senior championship. Being part of the Sigerson weekend and winning the Trench Cup was special too,” said Walsh.
