Hurling & Camogie

Antrim and Ulster yearns for big games: Campbell

8/2/2020  Antrims    Eoghan  Campbell     in action with  Tipperarys   Jerome  Cahill     in Saturdays game at Davitts New Gaa Complex in Beechmount     Picture   Seamus Loughran.
8/2/2020 Antrims Eoghan Campbell in action with Tipperarys Jerome Cahill in Saturdays game at Davitts New Gaa Complex in Beechmount Picture Seamus Loughran. 8/2/2020 Antrims Eoghan Campbell in action with Tipperarys Jerome Cahill in Saturdays game at Davitts New Gaa Complex in Beechmount Picture Seamus Loughran.

ANTRIM selector Johnny Campbell feels there is a “massive yearning” in the county and Ulster for games such as their high-profile clash with Tipperary at the weekend.

Almost 3,000 tickets were sold for the opening of the new facilities at Davitts’ GAC, where the All-Ireland champions, containing half-a-dozen of their summer team, played out a high-scoring and entertaining draw with Darren Gleeson’s men.

The connection between the counties has developed ever since Liam Sheedy came up to assist their Celtic Challenge team three years ago and ended up spending that summer and the following year in the senior backroom team.

It’s the second year running Tipperary have come up to play a challenge game, and with the crowds at club hurling championship games having reached record highs in the province, Campbell believes there is an insatiable appetite for more – but that Ulster cannot rely solely on help from below.

“There is a massive appetite,” said the Loughgiel man.

“You can see it, people are yearning for games like that up here. It was a massive occasion for Davitts, the opening of their new pitch.

“If the county can row in behind that, and the clubs should be doing all they can to help generate the interest for young ones, it needs all that.

“It was a massive day for Davitts, one we thoroughly enjoyed and got a lot out of. Hopefully they can grow stronger out of it, because Antrim needs everyone.

“The more help we can get the better, but we have to help ourselves at times too. There’s massive work going on, with Gaelfast and one thing and another.

“Throughout the schools, throughout the clubs. It’s not going to happen overnight but the more help… We’ve looked up to [teams down south] for years and if they can add something to us up here, all the better.

“What Darren’s bringing to it himself, and any time anyone else has been up, we’ve learned from it. It’s taking it on board and adding our own flavour, and what suits our own games up here. It is a different background.

“It’s good, there was a great buzz about Davitts. You don’t have to question Sheedy’s enthusiasm for hurling, it’s great and he knows a lot of the boys, he’s helped them and he knows what a sleeping giant we are, as I think he said.

“Whatever help we can get, great, but we have to help ourselves too.

“You can see wee shoots, the likes of Davitts getting their own pitch, you can see them growing. They have players representing the county at underage, they have mentors in at various underage teams, and that’s just one small aspect.

“The more people you can get involved through the club into the county, the better. It won’t be a short-term thing and hopefully it will reap rewards in years to come.”

Stage one of the self-help course is to step up through league and championship. Sunday’s game in Tullamore against an Offaly side that hasn’t had it all their own way so far will let Antrim know where they really stand.

The Saffrons have won their opening two games against Wicklow and Mayo, but their three remaining fixtures against Offaly, Meath and Kerry are the real test.

Keelan Molloy and Ciaran Johnston both played a half against Tipperary but will struggle to play 70 minutes having missed the Mayo game, while Ciaran Clarke, Conor Johnston and Conal Cunning could all miss the rest of the league through injury.

“I wasn’t involved before but from the outside looking in, it’s about a consistency level for Antrim,” said Campbell.

“They maybe had a good result here followed by a good dip. That, to me, is what it’s about to take the next step. Hopefully we get there, time will tell.

“Offaly are in the exact same boat as ourselves. It’s a 50-50 game, as they all are. The Meath game, the way they’re performing, and the Kerry game after that. The other games in the league, Kerry have beaten Offaly and Meath play Kerry in Navan this weekend.

“The division is a minefield and they’ll all have a bearing on it. That’s why it’s important to set your own standard and keep your consistency high. Time will tell.”