HURLING ace Domhnall Nugent sorely wants to see Antrim get away from playing in survival matches and says he’s “completely sick” of narrow defeats.
The Saffrons suffered their third consecutive defeat in Division 1B at home to Waterford last Sunday following earlier losses to Kilkenny and Dublin.
Darren Gleeson’s men face what is almost certain to be a win-or-bust relegation clash with familiar foes Laois, also winless after three games, in O’Moore Park on Sunday.
Neil McManus fired his last-gasp penalty over Waterford’s crossbar when a goal at that late stage would have been enough for a point.
“It was so close at the end,” Nugent said. “You get people coming onto the pitch afterwards and congratulating you but I think we’re sick of these results.
“We could very easily be sitting with six points on the board instead of none. But it is what it is, we’re improving as a team and I think everyone can see that. We believe in ourselves. But the Waterford match is gone now and we’ll get ready for the Laois match now.
“The Championship starts on Sunday for us, I suppose. We want to keep pushing on, we don’t want to have more hard-luck stories and be in a position where we’re trying to win a particular match to keep us up. We want to keep pushing towards the top and be competing in League semi-finals. We’re obviously disappointed with the Waterford result, but we’ll regroup.”
And Nugent also heaped praise on McManus who couldn’t turn Antrim’s stoppage-time penalty into a three-pointer.
“Neil McManus owes Antrim nothing,” said the St John’s man.
“He’s been the best player in the county for the guts of 20 years. He’s someone I look up to, he’s still the leader of this team, and I love him to bits. That penalty will not affect him at all. Make no mistake, Neil will be the first man ready to go against Laois next weekend.”
After a bright opening performance against Tipperary, Laois fell by four points before tumbling to an embarrassing 33-point defeat to Waterford. Last Sunday, Kilkenny eased to a 17-point win over ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s side.
But Laois have been a bit of a bogey team of Antrim’s and knocked the Ulstermen out of last season’s Championship.
Nugent, who has been seen as an impact substitute for Antrim in recent seasons, has got himself into great shape to win a starting place in Antrim's last two NHL games.
“I put in a good shift before Christmas,” said the bustling St John’s attacker. “It’s been tough because I kept picking up injuries and didn’t play one minute of pre-season.
“It was very, very challenging, mentally, but I just kept plugging away. The Waterford match was a dream for me – coming out and playing against the best players in the country at my own club.
“At the start of the match I just took a look around me and that whole thing of living in the present, I embraced it. Even though we got beaten I still have to reflect and appreciate where I am, and I’m happy.”
