Paul Shiels is recovering from a hip injury

BY NIALL GARTLAND

THE Antrim hurlers have come up short in their quest to bounce back to Division 1B, and the long-term absence of chief score-getter Paul Shiels has hardly helped matters.

The Dunloy sharpshooter has been an unhappy observer to Antrim’s ill-fated league campaign, opting out of PJ O’Mullan’s panel this year to focus on his recovery from hip surgery.

The Saffrons’ promotion tilt ground to a halt a fortnight ago against Carlow, and last weekend’s defeat to London poured salt in the wounds.
Shiels’ absence was exacerbated by their missing Cushendall contingent over the last few months, but O’Mullan has avoided using that as an excuse.

Although Shiels believes Antrim have enough good players to improve their lot, his absence has been sorely felt. In last year’s league campaign he tallied 2-37, and in 2014 he was the second highest scorer in the All-Ireland SFC Championship. The Dunloy man registered 1-64 in total (an average of 9.57 per game), and only Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan amassed a higher total (a remarkable 9-50 with an average of 11 points per game).

Shiels said: “It wasn’t too bad over the winter time [not being involved] but once the boys start playing matches it’s hard to sit back and watch. They’re getting it tough but they’ve enough good players [to improve].”

Shiels, hopes to make some return to action in the summer, which would be in time for his club Dunloy’s championship campaign, but too late for Antrim.

Read the full story in today’s Gaelic Life.