By Niall Gartland

ANTRIM boss Mark Doran acknowledges that spearheading a senior intercounty set-up has been an “eye opener” but he’s still finding a level of personal enjoyment in the experience.

Doran was installed as Saffrons manager after previous spells involved in the coaching tickets of Roscommon, Down, Clare and Wicklow. He also managed the Sleacht Néill footballers, so it’s fair to say he’s earned his stripes.

He was appointed as Antrim boss last August and it was never likely to be plain-sailing. They endured an alarmingly sluggish start to Division Four but eventually got the hang of things and recorded four straight wins at the tail-end of the league.

Doran says the overarching difficulty from his perspective was taking care of administrative matters – especially as he prefers to adopt a hands-on approach to coaching and management.

Speaking ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Ulster Championship opener against Derry, he said: “I was disappointed with the start we had. Everyone wants to win, and when you’re not winning, you’re not enjoying it.

“It’s been very busy – not even so much in a football sense, but sorting out non-football stuff.

“That was probably the biggest eye-opener – how much time you end up spending on the phone in the pre-season. We contacted every club in Antrim and whenever a club felt there were players worth looking at, we’d do that, and it did take a bit of time. It was important though as you want the best players involved.”

There’s also been a sense of learning on the job. Doran has been keen to put in the hours and makes himself available to players who need some extra coaching or advice.

“I’m not the sort of boy who can stand and watch. In the first four or five weeks, I wasn’t coaching as much as I’d like.

“I made a pact that if Antrim training was scheduled for 7pm, I’d be in Dunsilly from 4.30pm if anyone wanted to meet. Over the last couple of months there’s been a lot more coaching and that’s the bit I love. I also have Paul Bradley and Mick McCann in, but I love being in the middle of it too.”

Doran comes pre-armed with knowledge of his opponents from his stint at Sleacht Néill, but the reality is that Derry are raging hot favourites to book their spot in the last four of the provincial series.

“I know Chrissy McKaigue, Brendan Rogers, Shane McGuigan well from the three years I was with Sleacht Néill.

“Derry are a fantastic team – in the last two years, they weren’t really reaching their potential but there’s no doubt they have the right man over them now.

“They were seriously unlucky to miss out on promotion – they won five games and still missed out. I’d say they’re fully focused on the championship and reaching an Ulster final and the latter stages of the All-Ireland series. When Derry get a full head of steam, I’d say they’re in the top five teams in Ireland.”

Plying their trade in Division Four surely isn’t ideal preparation either, but Doran says they’ll do their best and see where it takes them.

“Yes, but that is what it is. That’s the level we’re at and we just have to make sure our training is as good as possible.

“Derry’s at a different level than us, but maybe it can be difficult for a top team to get themselves for playing a Division Four team – I suppose time will tell.

“We are very aware of the size of the task that’s ahead of us. We’d goals at the start of the season and Derry’s goals would have been a lot different than ours. At the end of the day we’ll still go to Celtic Park, and for 70 minutes we’ll try to produce the best version of ourselves.”

Doran also expresses his frustration that the league, which is by its nature is more of a level-playing field, is run off in the early part of the year.

“It’s a pet hate of mine – the National Leagues are our best competitions but we play them at the worst time of the year.

“The championship is championship and everyone loves it, but in my eyes, the best competition, and the most even, is the league.

“I think they should start it at the end of March and then lead into the All-Ireland series.”