Hurling & Camogie

Offaly game will make or break Antrim's season insists Johnny McIntosh

A hamstring injury could keep the talismanic Neil McManus out of Antrim's relegation play-off against Offaly in Navan tomorrow. Picture by Mal McCann
A hamstring injury could keep the talismanic Neil McManus out of Antrim's relegation play-off against Offaly in Navan tomorrow. Picture by Mal McCann A hamstring injury could keep the talismanic Neil McManus out of Antrim's relegation play-off against Offaly in Navan tomorrow. Picture by Mal McCann

THE outcome of tomorrow’s Division One relegation play-off against Offaly will make-or-break Antrim’s season – with defeat potentially setting the Saffrons back “three or four years”, according to former county star Johnny McIntosh.

Although there is the Joe McDonagh Cup to come next month, offering a potential route back into the Liam McCarthy Cup, McIntosh insists top flight survival is “absolutely essential” as Darren Gleeson’s men prepare to face the Faithful in Navan.

Despite a winless campaign thus far he remains confident Antrim can get the job done at Pairc Tailteann - even though they look set to be without Neil McManus due to a hamstring injury, as well as Niall McKenna and Michael Bradley

And McIntosh hopes last weekend’s heavy dead rubber defeat to Tipperary hasn’t left a mark.

“It’s going to ask a few questions about Darren Gleeson because he took a bit of a gamble in the team he named against Tipperary – he basically sent an Antrim team down to be lambs to the slaughter,” said the Glenariffe man, who was recently involved with the county’s U20s alongside Karl McKeegan.

“That was going to be a tough match even with our best 15 on the field, but to get such a demoralising result is really hurtful. It could well backfire - they could be flat this week in training, or sometimes with a defeat like that is quite easy to forget and move on.

“It was always going to be difficult to keep the momentum of the last few years going, especially after getting knocked out of the Championship and back down into the Joe McDonagh. That’s why the game on Saturday is so important.

“For Antrim to go out of Division One this year would really send us right back to where we were three or four years ago, so to get another year up there is the most important thing, above all else. It’s hugely important to build on the good work that’s been done so far.

“This is our whole season. I would stay in Division One before I would take another Joe McDonagh – some players might disagree with that, but if I had my choice I would take a win on Saturday over anything else this season.”

And there are reasons to be confident. While Antrim have been competitive in all their League outings bar Tipperary, Offaly suffered heavy defeats most weeks – with Michael Fennelly’s men managing a scoring average of 17 points per game.

“That would give me a lot of heart,” said McIntosh.

“Even against Tipperary, Antrim still managed 1-17, which is more than Offaly have scored all year. Eoghan Cahill had been injured but he came off the bench against Limerick, which is a boost for them.

“I can’t see there being much more than a couple of scores in it, but I really hope the extra year in Division One has done us good in a game like this.”

And, especially in the expected absence of some key men, McIntosh feels Antrim’s chances would be greatly enhanced by starting Loughgiel livewire James McNaughton, who has been introduced from the bench since opening day defeat in Kilkenny.

“I’ve been a bit mystified at that one.

“Every time I see James he looks one of Antrim’s best players. He came on against Laois and turned the game in our favour… I think he’s one of the players Antrim should be building a team around. He’s athletic, strong, a very good hurler.

“Also, the ground has hardened up now, the game in Navan is going to be a summer match, it’s going to be warm, a big pitch. I would be much more hopeful about Antrim beating Offaly if I saw James McNaughton on the pitch.”