A MONTH after being well beaten at Parnell Park, Antrim selector Johnny Campbell admits the Saffrons have a score to settle in tomorrow’s Leinster Championship clash with Dublin – but it is with themselves, rather than their opponents.
Eight points separated the counties back on May 22 but it could have been much worse had it not been for goalkeeper Ryan Elliott, who pulled off six point blank saves to keep Darren Gleeson’s men in the game.
Coming off the back of a momentous opening day Division One win over Clare, and an encouraging performance in defeat to Kilkenny at Nowlan Park, the Dubs delivered a wake-up call.
In Navan tomorrow, Antrim have the chance to right that wrong – and Campbell insists that is what has motivated the Saffrons, rather than any kind of revenge mission.
“I wouldn’t say with Dublin – more with ourselves,” said the Loughgiel man when asked if Antrim felt they had a score to settle at Pairc Tailteann.
“There were players who did a hell of a lot of good stuff but we were second best for large parts. We’re under no illusions. We’ve talked about the improvements we need to make, the jump we’re going to, but we’re capable it and we’ve shown that in different games throughout the League.
“The disappointment coming away from that game, with how we performed… look, Dublin brought something, we didn’t match it but we had to look inward.
“It wasn’t about Dublin doing this or that, it was how we could do things better. There is an expectation for us to perform better every day we go out, not just because it’s Dublin.
“We’re looking to make those jumps in consistency and this is another step to it. There’s no two ways about it, we’ll need to be better if we’re going to even challenge them at the weekend.”
The physicality of Dublin’s Danny Sutcliffe and Ronan Hayes, the pace and power of their running all afternoon, posed major problems for an Antrim side who struggled to impose themselves at either end.
Yet Campbell insists the Saffron management weren’t caught on the hop by what Mattie Kenny’s men brought to the table.
“We did our work prior to the game, we knew what Dublin were about and they brought it, we didn’t. Plain and simple.
“They’re a well established Division One team, competitive in every game we go to, so naw, they definitely didn’t surprise us. We surprised ourselves more than anything with not performing.
“But we’ve looked at it and hopefully we can rectify it.”
Antrim certainly bounced back impressively after that defeat, a last-gasp draw with Wexford sealing top flight survival before victory over relegated Laois provided the cherry on top at Corrigan Park as attention swiftly turned to Championship.
And Campbell was delighted the Saffrons showed they are well equipped to compete at that level.
“There was a lot of good things came out of it, and a lot of things we had to look at.
“We’re working with the guys night in, night out and we see the quality they have. If anything, we probably sold ourselves short in a couple of League games, the Dublin game especially.
“We’ve a team and a squad from whom we’ve been asking for consistency, and we’ve went about doing that this last couple of years. That’s the biggest challenge if you want to establish yourself as a Division One team, as Dublin are – to make sure you’re there every year and competing there every year.”
CAPTAIN McCANN FIT FOR DUBLIN CLASH
CAPTAIN Conor McCann is in line for a return to the Saffrons’ starting 15 tomorrow, after over a month on the sidelines.
The Creggan man hasn’t featured since Antrim’s Division One defeat to Kilkenny back on May 16, missing the games against Dublin, Wexford and Laois as Darren Gleeson’s men secured their top flight status.
But, as the Saffrons gear up for tomorrow’s Leinster Championship quarter-final clash with Dublin, selector Johnny Campbell says McCann is back in the frame for a starting spot.
“Conor had a bit of a niggle, I suppose you were minding him to a certain extent,” said the Loughgiel man.
“But we’ve a clean sheet to pick from, maybe other than Peter McCallin – we’re waiting to see how he comes through the last couple of sessions.”
Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton, Neil McManus and Joe Maskey all missed that final League game against the O’Moore men, while Aodhan O’Brien and Conor Johnston both picked up knocks that day.
Forward Domhnall Nugent had also picked up a hand injury earlier in the League but is back training, and Campbell hopes they will have a full deck to choose from tomorrow.
“We’re all good, we’ve a clean bill of health for the weekend,” he said, “touch wood it stays that way.”
