NEAL McAULEY had a tough time of it last Sunday. In the first-half, the Ballycastle clubman faced into the icy wind that whistled down Celtic Park towards the Foyle and helped carry a series of monster frees from Derry’s Ruairi Convery over Antrim’s bar.
Then, in the second-half, the full-back and skipper was blinded by the low spring sun that meant he could only guess where the sliotar was when the Oak Leafers went on the attack. Fortunately for McAuley and his fellow Antrim defenders, Derry didn’t muster too many attacks after the break. The visiting forwards and midfielders were well in control and Antrim made good a five-point deficit at half-time to win by six at the finish.
“We wanted two points and we got two points,” said McAuley.
“We went about it the hard way in the first-half, but Derry came out and played very well in the first. We were a bit slow starting, but we got into it in the second-half. At the end of the day, we didn’t play well, but we got two points. We ground out a victory.”
Any notions Antrim’s players might have had about cantering through Division 2A were quickly dispelled last Sunday. Derry were well worth their half-time lead and showed more stomach for battle throughout the first period.
“We were probably told a few home truths at half-time,” McAuley admitted.
“We came up there and we maybe didn’t give Derry the respect they deserve. We were sluggish and, at half-time, we said we were going to get the first few points on the board, which we did and we drive on from there.”
Antrim host Kildare on Sunday and the Lilywhites won’t travel north with much confidence after they lost 2-13 to 0-14 at home to Carlow: “Again, it’s going to be a very difficult fixture,” said McAuley.
“We have to show every team respect because this is our level and we have to accept that - we can’t think we’re better than anybody else, this is our level. It’s a tough assignment next week, we’re at home, hopefully at Ballycastle and, again, the plan will be to try and get two points.
“Our hardest task over the next few years will be to get out of this league because everybody is chomping to get out and the teams are all of a similar ability. It’s going to be extremely tight and it could come down to points’ difference.”
As the game wore on, Antrim did look a class above their hosts and they picked up some fine scores in the game, with James Black and Saul McCaughey marking their debuts with points.
“To be fair, Derry are missing a lot of players, they’ve lost about 15 players over the last couple of years,” said McAuley.
“You have to note that, but our hurling did show as well whenever we got a bit of time and space. It was good to see, but surely there’s more to come from us. We’re missing four or five players ourselves from the Cushendall lads and a few injuries but, after Cushendall finish the All-Ireland, hopefully the manager should have a full squad to pick from.
“It’s good to get into the National League, we’ve been playing Conor McGurk Cup and Walsh Cup but, at the end of the day, the league is more important. We want to get wins and points on the board to see if we can get out of this division.”
