By Kieran Lynch

ANTRIM’S first game of the 2022 season ended in defeat against Dublin in the Walsh Cup, and the Saffrons will be looking to get back to winning ways against Offaly this weekend.

Antrim led the Dubs by as much as seven points during the first half, but were unable to sustain their lead and Darren Gleeson’s men ending up losing convincingly, on a scoreline of 2-27 to 1-17. Dublin were well deserved winners with the imperious Colin Currie chipping in with 1-13 for the winning side.

Dublin have proved to be something of a problematic match-up for Antrim in recent times with last weekend’s win adding to the two victories Dublin claimed over them in 2021, in both the league and in the Leinster Championship. Antrim will be out for revenge when they face off again in the league next month.

Gleeson’s side will be looking to return to winning ways in their next game, which takes place this Sunday as they travel to Offaly, who themselves lost in their first encounter of 2022. They went down 2-19 to 0-19, against Galway in Henry Shefflin’s first game in charge of the tribesmen.

Antrim will be looking for positive results, but as is the case with most sides at this stage of the season, the key focus for them in the Walsh Cup will be getting themselves ready for a challenging league campaign ahead, which begins with a game against Kilkenny in Nowlan Park.

In 2021 the Ulster side represented themselves very well in Division One, as they stayed up and enjoyed a memorable victory over Clare in Corrigan Park. With the high standards that playing in the top division brings, Antrim will need to be at the same level again in 2022.