Saffrons take a step towards Ulster derby

PROMOTION is in the back of Patrick McBride’s mind. Not at the front, but it’s in there somewhere.

He’ll not focus on it now. Before Sunday’s win over Clare, the Banner County was front and centre in the Saffrons’ thoughts.

Now it’s Fermanagh. Paddy McBride needed to be told they play Offaly third.

There is the delight at winning their opening game. Points in the bag are there for keeps.

“It was good for us to get that win,” he said of their 1-9 to 1-6 success. “We were playing a Clare team that is probably one of the favourites to go back up. They probably feel themselves that they should be in Division Two.”

Winning a tight game is satisfying too and McBride is excited by the new rules. Solo and go floats his boat. Forwards love to see the game speeded up and he credited referee Kevin Faloon for using common sense.

“He was able to let people be people,” McBride said, admitting that officials need cut some slack. They are human.

For Antrim’s focus, McBride agrees on consistency, without looking too far ahead.

A Kildare dropping down, feeling they belong on the second tier, will have a different outlook. Promotion will demand five wins in seven games.

“We haven’t managed to do that in the last two years,” McBride admitted.

“We have no evidence to say this is what we need this year because we haven’t done it yet. So, it just needs to be each week.”

The take one game at a time often grinds the gears of readers. Put yourself in a player’s shoes, like McBride. It’s the only game that counts.

For Antrim, it’s a trip to Ederney to take on a Fermanagh side stinging from a double score defeat to title favourites Kildare.

Fermanagh won a game Antrim should’ve won two years ago. In the two Tailteann Cup, meetings of the teams have been Saffron days.

“I haven’t talked about them once (before the Clare game) and we’ll just have to focus on it this week,” said McBride.

They’ll suss out the dangerous players to look for. On top of that, there won’t be many trade secrets. In an Ulster derby, there are very few rabbits pulled out of any hats.

“We need to look at ourselves more than anything,” McBride said. “I think that’s where we got joy at the weekend, purely focused on ourselves.

“I think the most important thing for us this week was that we got our own house in order.

“We’ll be looking forward to it and I’d say they’ll (Fermanagh) be looking forward to it too, especially after us beating them the last two years.

“I’m sure they’ll be looking to get one back on us. I’d say it’ll be a good battle because it’s turned into that type of affair between us two in the last few years so it’ll be a game both teams will be looking forward to.”