HURLER Daniel McKernan believes Antrim’s improved fitness levels give them every chance of getting out of the Allianz NHL Division 2A this season.
The midfielder says the squad has got “back to basics” under the new managerial team of Dominic McKinley, Terence McNaughton, Gary O’Kane and Neal Peden after a disastrous 2016 campaign.
After facing last year’s All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary in the space of a couple of weeks, the Saffrons couldn’t have asked for better examinations ahead of their NHL opener against London on Sunday February 12.
“That’s one of the best pre-seasons we’ve had to date,” said McKernan.
“The management that came in shook things up and we went back to basics. They’ve run the b**** of us and we’re fit. And when you’re fit you can hurl. Last year we didn’t have the fitness. You saw in last year’s Christy Ring final against Meath we were running away with it and then we ended up chasing them.”
Now in his fourth year with the Antrim seniors, the Sarsfields clubman said: “We were going through the motions after getting relegated [the previous year]. It didn’t work out for us under PJ [O’Mullan] but this year the team has got the passion back.”
Last year, McKernan sustained a fractured knee-cap on the eve of Antrim’s League opener against Derry and only returned to action for the county in their ill-fated Christy Ring final against Meath.
He’s staked a claim for one of the midfield berths ahead of the National League after posting a fine display in last Sunday’s prestigious challenge game against All-Ireland champions Tipperary at Corrigan Park.
And it was an added bonus to come face-to-face with Tipperary captain Brendan Maher in the second half: “That was a great experience,” said McKernan.
“In the space of four weeks we’ve played Kilkenny and Tipp. That’s the marker you want to set yourself against and I thought we did well.
“In the second half I was up against Brendan Maher. You can’t really think about who you’re playing against. When he was running out you were thinking: ‘Happy days – Brendan Maher’, but after that you treat him as a normal player. It’s great preparation for us. We need to get out of this League and then we’ll look at the Christy Ring after that.”
Joint manager McNaughton name-checked Conor McCann for his excellent displays in Antrim’s half-forward line this month and has been hugely impressed by rookie defender Stephen Rooney.
The St Paul’s corner-back has put himself in the frame for a starting slot in the National League after a string of steady performances in the Walsh Cup and his composed handling of Tipp’s Allstar forward John McGrath at the weekend.
Rooney was playing rugby for Instonians last season but has opted to concentrate on hurling in 2017: “I played rugby for Instonians so I wasn’t here last year,” explained Rooney (22).
“I stopped playing rugby this year to play hurling because that’s my first love.”
He added: “Because I’m a new face I needed to make an impression and I’m glad I have played a few games so I’m happy enough. I just have to keep putting in performances and keep management happy.
“I’m very hopeful for this year. At the start of the year we played Slaughtneil and it was tight enough and since then we’ve just got better and better.”
