ANTRIM manager Dominic McKinley has blasted “uncommitted players” who he claims “have put Antrim hurling back at square one”.
McKinley, who watched his side ripped apart by Cork at Casement Park last week, was left answering questions about the team’s performance.
Tomorrow Antrim face Kerry and will begin the long journey there with two consecutive National League Division Two defeats behind them and relegation fears on the road in front, unless they can stop the rot.
McKinley said that the bulk of the team which reached the All-Ireland semi-final last year was missing due to “outside interests”.
“We now find that so many of our experienced players are not giving the commitment which was expected and subsequently we are left building a new squad from scratch.
“It’s not fair on the young players who have been thrown into the team. I am totally disappointed at the lack of commitment shown to the county team.
“There are at least seven players who played against Limerick in the All-Ireland semi-final, who have not played in either of our National League games. The present squad is left to carry the burden.”
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FORMER Down star Greg Blaney returned to county training last night.
The former All Star was believed to have retired earlier this year, but seems to have been coaxed back to help lead the Down foward line once again for the forthcoming Ulster championship campaign.
The Belfast-based dentist has been an ever-present for the Mourne county ever since making his debut for Down in 1981.
His last game for Down was the Ulster final defeat at the hands of Tyrone last July - a game many thought was his last for the county.
However he is believed to have kept in good shape playing for his club Carryduff. His return to county training is bound to raise a few eyebrows after county officials confirmed several months ago that he would not be returning to the county squad.
Blaney may now stake a claim to a place in the starting line-up in next Sunday’s national league quarter-final against Kerry.
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TOMMY JOHNSON was cock-a-hoop as he became a £2.4million Celt.
Johnson became the second most expensive player in the history of Celtic as he signed a four-and-a-half year contract by moving from Aston Villa.
He takes the spending of manager Tommy Burns to around £15million in his three years in charge.
It is certainly a huge investment by Celtic, with the overall deal worth around £4million, with the player’s reputed £8,000-a-week pay twice that of Jorge Cadete.
“People will make their own minds up,” said Burns yesterday, when asked if such a big-money signing should indicate he will still be at Parkhead come August.
Burns has tracked the 26-yearold Geordie, a former England U21 international who began his career with Notts County, since he was a Derby County player.
Johnson didn’t think twice when offered the chance to move to Celtic, after turning down a return to the Baseball Ground and despite interest from Everton and Manchester City.
Celtic spent £3.5million last summer to sign Alan Stubbs from Bolton, and Johnson is now their second most expensive recruit.
