THE Antrim camogs have spent this week dreaming of what it is going to be like to run out in Croke Park against Kilkenny.

The panel have not experienced the thrill of taking the field at the Jones Road venue, and on the final whistle of their All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship semi-final win over Galway last weekend, that was all they could think about.

However, for joint manager Paul McKillen – who takes the team along with Jim McKernan and Elaine Dowds – the team have to regain focus in the next coming days.

“The big catch is Croke Park. I don’t think many have played on it, and that was the main subject of talk over the squad after. They want to get to Croke Park. The talk wasn’t about winning the cup, the talk was about going to Croke Park.

“But I will bring them down to earth this week. There is no use going to Croke Park and not winning the cup.”

McKillen told Gaelic Life earlier this year that if Antrim didn’t win their quarter-final match against Kerry then it would be a bad season for the county. But now they are in the final the county feel that they have to progress further.

Last year they lost the Intermediate final to Down, now this year they will try to go one better.

“We are where we were last year. The experience of last year will help us. We have to remind them of the disappointment they felt walking off the pitch last year. I think the girls have come on leaps and bounds. We have added players.”

McKillen pointed out that players like Aine McGill and Colleen Patterson have improved this year. While experienced player Niamh Donnelly was outstanding at full-back for the Saffrons in the 2-13 to 1-13 win over Galway.

Donnelly is playing full-back after Chloe Drain was sidelined with injury. Drain has since returned but Antrim have kept Donnelly at full-back and move Drain to corner-back.

“It was luck that it worked out. We have put Niamh in full-back and that has been good for us.”

However, they still didn’t get a perfect performance.

“I was very pleased with the performance of the defence. They didn’t let Galway through until the very end.

“We were six up with a minute to go in injury time and we let an old slippery goal in. Then the referee gave a couple of chances to Galway. I don’t know how he did it. But we held out and got over the line.

“The game was always going to be close. They were going well, we were going well. It was going to be about who got the goals and we got the two early goals and we were fit to hold on during the game.

“I felt that the defence was excellent, and the forwards did the business. Their movement was excellent and we have given them a free role now to switch about.

“It was a great team performance.”

The team will be fully fit for the final next weekend. There were no injuries to report after the match.