ANTRIM coach Mickey McCullough says that a mix of unpredictability and Belfast bite gives the Saffrons hurlers a massive chance of upsetting the odds in this weekend’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

Rossa man McCullough, who has coached Armagh hurlers, Dublin camogs and is currently coaching Ballyboden’s hurlers, says that his county have developed into a strong side.

“I think their chances are very, very good.

“Dublin have a predictable style, but Antrim are very unpredictable. They don’t play any specific style, but they play with great passion.

“They also have a lot of Belfast players on the team. Antrim teams used to not have many Belfast players, but now they have the likes of Gerard Walsh, Niall McKenna and Michael Bradley.

“When Antrim were really strong they had a mix of players like Jim Connolly, Mickey Kettle and Barry McFall who were from Belfast, and they gave them real bite. Belfast players have an arrogance, or an ignorance about them.

“The north Antrim players were really talented, gifted hurlers, but the Belfast players would bring that aggression or unpredictability. That’s what we have in the current group of Belfast players.”

One of the players that fits that bill is Niall McKenna.

McCullough said: “I was speaking to one of the Dublin players recently and they were really impressed by Niall McKenna.

“They said that he is a player that you just can’t predict what he is going to do, they said he has an unorthodox style.

“I liken him to an old fashioned-style hurler.”

Another Belfast player who has impressed McCullough is Gerard Walsh, who is also a Rossa clubmate.

“Gerard Walsh doesn’t care who he marks. He won’t be overawed by anyone. He just goes in there and gets the job done.”

With that in mind, McCullough believes that Antrim have a fantastic chance to beat Dublin.

However, they have a big challenge as their successes this year, the win over Clare and the draw with Wexford, both happened at Corrigan Park.

“You look at Down when they played in Ballycran they were hard to beat.

“When you play in your home ground then you are comfortable. Antrim have had that in Corrigan this year.

“But they are playing in Navan and the pitch in Navan will suit them.”

Another reason why McCullough feels Antrim have a great chance is to do with their scoring returns.

“I have always said that people talk about the importance of Neil McManus, but I have thought he hampers teams. He will score 14 points, but 13 will be frees and another will be a 65. When Neil was unable to play we really saw a spread of scorers from Antrim.

“You saw scores coming from Niall McKenna, from ‘Clarkey’ (Ciaran Clarke) from Keelan Molloy, and James McNaughton.

“Players like that have added dynamism to Antrim.”

13 December 2020; Niall McKenna of Antrim gets past Tomás O’Connor, behind, and Micheal Leane of Kerry during the Joe McDonagh Cup Final match between Kerry and Antrim at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó MídheachSportsfile

9 May 2021; Niall McKenna of Antrim during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B Round 1 match between Antrim and Clare at Corrigan Park in Belfast, Antrim. Photo by David FitzgeraldSportsfile