Football

Monaghan boss Counihan wary of "unpredictable" Antrim

THREAT: Jason Iriwn was Monaghan's main man as they defeated Down last weekend Picture: Philip Walsh
THREAT: Jason Iriwn was Monaghan's main man as they defeated Down last weekend Picture: Philip Walsh THREAT: Jason Iriwn was Monaghan's main man as they defeated Down last weekend Picture: Philip Walsh

Ulster Minor Football Championship round one: Antrim v Monaghan (tonight, Corrigan Park, 6pm)

NOT for the first time, an Antrim side will go into a Championship campaign with a few headlines swirling about the team.

This time it centres around the Dunloy contingent, or lack thereof on the panel, with Saffron manager Collie McAllister stating that nowhere else in Ireland would the county champions be unrepresented as they prepare to host Monaghan.

The different age gradings – county’s U17 to club’s U18 – does complicate the matter a bit but it is still a rather unusual situation.

It’s a pity because Antrim actually go into this evening’s match knowing that they have competed quite well at this level in recent years.

Since June 1 2014, the last time Antrim doubled up on a Championship Sunday as both sides defeated Fermanagh, the senior team has only won one Championship game - Laois in 2015.

The minors however have recorded a win every year since with the exception of last season when they lost to Fermanagh before Monaghan proved too strong in their Qualifier meeting.

The Farney county are heavily favoured to repeat the dose at Corrigan Park ensuring that if Antrim are going to find a win, it’ll need to be in the backdoor.

The League stage offered little evidence of a possible shock with McAllister’s side losing four from four including a 22-point thumping at the hands of this evening’s opponents.

Team captain Ruairi Hagen was one of few bright spots that day as he showed well from his centre half-back berth. The Saffrons will also feel that they have the talent around the half-forward area to cause problems with Ryan Lennon, Pauric McGuinness and Oisin Connolly worth keeping an eye on.

It was Monaghan captain Jason Irwin who really caught the eye though and he also excelled against Down last weekend.

The Oram clubman kicked some important scores and really stood up when Monaghan had to find a way back into the game in the final quarter.

Manager Mark Counihan praised his side for their grittiness in those final minutes, the Farney county eventually winning 1-13 to 1-10.

“They showed great character and resilience to stay in the game,” he said.

“I think we were four points down with 15 minutes to go but the boys stuck at it and worked fierce hard to get themselves back into it.

“Once we got the goal (through Tiernan Kearns) we were able to kick on and we got momentum at the right time.”

The visitors to Corrigan Park will undoubtedly carry the tag of favourites but Counihan, unsurprisingly, attempted to guard against such talk.

“For us we feel we’re coming up against a side that’s a bit unpredictable.

“They are very good at U16 and I’m sure some of those boys will become available for the Championship.

“When we played them in the league I know they were down three or four key players so we know we’re coming up against a different team.

“Things can happen at minor level. There was a fancied Clare team beaten by Waterford during the week in Munster so you just don’t know.”

The Farney county will still be without Cremartin’s Conor Eccles, Emyvale’s Michael Hamill and Truagh’s Cian Maguire through injury.

Even without that trio, Monaghan should make it two wins in a week while Antrim will be left to look to the Qualifiers for their almost annual victory.