Antrim welcome a familiar face

WHEN Antrim beat Wicklow two years ago, relegating them to Division Four, Mark Doran was part of Oisín McConville’s management team with the Garden County.

There are different targets when they lock horns on Saturday evening. McConville will be looking for a victory at the top of Division Four whereas Doran and Antrim are looking to climb from the bottom two.

It was Aghagallon’s Ruairi McCann’s goal that separated the sides two years ago but he isn’t among the nine players that remain from Andy McEntee’s starting 15.

That’s the preamble out of the way. For Antrim, there will be a desire to build on last weekend’s victory in Leitrim.

With the championship opener against the Derry coming later in the season, finishing with eight league points would present a turnaround.

The Saffrons had a decent performance against league leaders Carlow in the first round. After being hit for a couple of early second-half two-pointers, they were chasing a game that was tiptoeing out the gap.

Defeat in Tipperary was followed by Patrick McBride and Conor Small stepping away from the squad. The clouds of doom descended.

After a humbling defeat at the hands of Longford, Antrim, rooted to the foot of the table, spent two weeks of soul-searching. That’s why beating Leitrim was and must and they delivered, thanks to a third goal of the season for Paddy McAleer and a strong spell after half time.

Doran (pictured) will know the Wicklow players better than anyone in the Saffrons’ camp this week but he’ll be hoping to get a tune from Antrim.

Ryan McQuillan, Dominic McEnhill and Pat Shivers have scores in them. Collectively, Antrim are must offer more for longer.

Wicklow have a consistency Antrim can only dream of. Both teams lost to Carlow.

The Antrim shackles will now be off and they can tear into their opponents from the off.

Another win would be a welcome reward.