Joe McDonagh Cup

Antrim v Kerry

Saturday, Corrigan Park, 1.30pm

ANTRIM’S  clash with Kerry this weekend is a chance for the Saffrons to further prove the progress they have made this season.

That’s the opinion of Antrim ace Eoghan Campbell.

The Saffrons player has had a fine season so far and featured at midfield as Antrim beat Kerry in the league final to earn their place in Division One next year.

He also played a key role in their win over Westmeath, and was involved in the draw with Carlow. That latter result was perhaps a blow for the team.

Yet Campbell believes Antrim are in good shape and they see the Kerry game as a great opportunity to move one step closer to the McDonagh final, and a win there would earn Antrim a place in the 2021 Leinster Hurling Championship.

“We played Kerry earlier this  year and they were very strong. It was a close game and we expect it to be the same.

“We both want a win in order  to come top of the table. The feeling within the squad is very good.

“We know that Kerry will bring a massive challenge this weekend. They hurl a lot like us. They have a mix of players, some young, and some more experienced. They are also like us in that they like to move the ball out from the back and try to get their target men on the ball.

“At the same time they bring massive intensity as well. It is up to us to deal with that.”

Campbell pointed out that Antrim have had to deal with the lockdown and that has been a challenge. Yet the Cushendall man suggested that Antrim may even have improved since their win over Kerry in the league.

“The mood is good. Coming back after the lockdown it was a challenge to get back up to speed. Going in against Kerry it was very quick after coming back. We have been building since then. We had a good win against Westmeath and then we had that draw against Carlow. Perhaps that was things catching up with us after a few weeks.”

Just over two weeks ago, Carlow and Antrim played out a thriller. Ciaran Clarke scored 2-7, Conor McCann got 1-1, while James McNaughton and Domhnall Nugent got a goal apiece. Yet despite all that scoring Antrim couldn’t put Carlow away. Nugent’s late goal was the key score as it earned a draw for Antrim and kept them in the hunt for a place in the McDonagh final.

“It was a poor performance all round. We didn’t implement our game -plan. We focused on individual performances.  We didn’t make the right decisions. I don’t know why that was. But we have been working on that. It was a bit of a dip in form for us.”

Yet nothing is lost, and Antrim’s fortunes are in their own hands. A win against Kerry would put them at the top of the Joe McDonagh table.

“All the games in the group are important. We have taken it one game at a time. Before the Carlow game we weren’t thinking about this game. That’s the way that you have to approach these matches.

“We know that winning this game would be a massive step towards the final. That’s where we want to be.

“The fact that it is against Kerry, and we have already played them and beat them, that is important as well as we want to keep that momentum up.

“At the same time, we want to win every game that we play no matter who we are playing against.”

Campbell reckons that despite the Carlow draw, there is every reason for Antrim to be confident going into this game against Kerry.

“We have a lot of good young players.

“The squad is very good. We can take a player off and the player coming on is as good if not better. Everyone is really focused and there is a real drive in this team. We know that there are places up for grabs. The players know that and they are working harder because of it and that Lis a real positive.”