Football

Antrim confidence high for Division Four showdown against Wexford

Marty Johnston was outstanding in midfield for Antrim against Derry at Corrigan Park. Picture by Cliff Donaldson.
Marty Johnston was outstanding in midfield for Antrim against Derry at Corrigan Park. Picture by Cliff Donaldson. Marty Johnston was outstanding in midfield for Antrim against Derry at Corrigan Park. Picture by Cliff Donaldson.

Allianz National Football League Division Four: Wexford v Antrim (tomorrow, Innovate Wexford Park, 2pm)

TAKING on the promotion favourites in their first two games is a tough start for Antrim but they look up for the challenge and, after pushing Derry all the way last weekend, the Saffrons need to go a step further by beating Wexford tomorrow.

Skipper Declan Lynch conceded “this is our All-Ireland final” when he looked ahead to the pivotal showdown at Innovate Wexford Park and it’s no exaggeration to say that it could well define 2019 for the Saffrons because it’s hard to envisage a Championship run without the momentum of promotion.

Wexford were relegated from Division Three alongside Derry last year and were expected to go back up with them this season but their 13-point loss in Leitrim last Sunday has blown the race for promotion wide open.

An Antrim victory tomorrow will see them force their way back into the reckoning and, although they ultimately lost last Sunday, manager Lenny Harbinson and his backroom team will have taken a lot of confidence from the performance.

The best player on the pitch for long spells was Creggan clubman Marty Johnson (listed among the substitutes but surely bound to start tomorrow) who was outstanding in midfield. His withdrawal, just before the hour mark, may ultimately have cost Antrim a valuable win because they missed him in the closing stages.

His brother Ricky was excellent at full-back and he didn’t allow Shane McGuigan to get into the game. In fact, the entire Antrim rearguard left Corrigan Park with credit – they looked well set-up and organised and operated as a cohesive unit, tackling in packs and turning Derry over by sheer weight of numbers.

In attack, Matthew Fitzpatrick tried hard at centre half-forward but struggled to break free of Chrissy McKaigue but Paddy McBride was outstanding at wing half-forward and contributed 1-3. Sean Francis Quinn kept Colm Duffin on a short leash but he evaded him to set up McBride’s goal while Ryan Murray contributed three points (two from frees) and was a handful for the Derry defence every time he got the ball in his hands which, from an Antrim perspective, wasn’t often enough.

At the back, St John’s goalkeeper Padraig Nugent also looks capable of having a bright future at inter-county level. He saved a penalty from Enda Lynn and was also able to kick the ball out 60 yards, into midfield, into the wind.

Manager Harbinson has announced three changes for the trip to the south-east with Patrick Branagan, (corner-back), Stephen Beatty (centre-forward) and Aghagallon’s Ruairi McCann replace Eoghan McCabe, Fitzpatrick and Marty Johnston.

It will be a surprise if Johnston doesn’t start tomorrow and help Antrim take the fight to a Wexford side that led by a point at half-time in Leitrim but were sent reeling by three goals in seven second half minutes from the home side.

Although Antrim also lost last Sunday, they played with an encouraging intensity and cohesion and, if they produce the same tomorrow, they should be capable of winning this game and forcing their way into the race for promotion.

Wexford: TBC

Antrim: P Nugent; P Branagan, R Johnston, P Gallagher; N Delargy, M McCarry, D Lynch; M Sweeney, F Burke; K Quinn, S Beatty, P McBride; C Duffin, R McCann (Aghagallon), R Murray