Antrim must aim to step off the bottom rung

THIS is going to be the toughest of weeks in Antrim as they sit bottom of Division Four and facing Sunday’s trip to Leitrim.

The Saffrons were relegated to the league’s bottom rung last season but despite some early McKenna Cup shoots of promise, they’ve lost their three league games.

It spells an end to any promotion hopes with the potential eight points up for grabs not having saw a team promoted from Division Four.

Antrim have four games to salvage something from their league campaign
ahead of the championship phase.

An away quarter-final against Derry will be a mountain they’ll struggle to club, with a run in the Tailteann Cup their likely avenue for a silverware challenge.

Last weekend’s heavy defeat to Longford, on home soil, was a hammer blow after what they offered against table toppers Carlow on the opening weekend.

They’ve had their share of injuries with Patrick McBride and Conor Small stepping away after Michael Byrne and Aghagallon’s Ruairi McCann not committing in pre-season.

While there is a deeper dig needed in the future, in term of the overall Antrim future generally, the here and now is this weekend.

They face a Leitrim who dug deep to overcome London thanks to six Barry McNulty two-pointers.

Looking back at their defeat to Carlow, it was the concession of two-point shots after half-time that turned the game away from Antrim’s control.

After Sunday, Antrim have Wicklow and London at home with a trip to Waterford as their league run in. All winnable games but that’s if there is a winning habit.

Long term improvements are for another day. As for those inside the dressing room. Sticking together and making some marginal gains is the only way of stepping off the bottom.