Saffron men ready for the winner-takes-all clash

National Hurling League Division 2A final

Antrim v Kerry

Sunday, Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, 1.30pm

THERE’S a big prize on offer this weekend.

A win on Sunday, in the Division 2A league final, would send Antrim up to Division 1B, and afford them the chance to play against some top level opponents.

Saffrons captain Conor McCann understands the magnitude of the game, and he says that they have learnt from mistakes made in the past.

“It is a huge game. A really important game. We want to get back to the top tier, Division 1A and 1B. It is the first time we have had a proper chance at it in a while.

“The last time we got promoted was a couple of years ago (2017). We went straight down the year after. We felt that we didn’t do ourselves justice.

“It’s an important game for us.”

Antrim were relegated out of Division 1B in 2018, when they lost four games out of five, but had the experience of playing against the likes of Galway, Limerick and Offaly.

Their opponents this weekend are Kerry. They missed out on promotion last year when they lost to Westmeath in the Division 2A final.

The Kingdom won four and lost one during their league campaign. The one defeat came at the hands of Antrim at the start of March, 2-20 to 2-14.

McCann said: “Kerry are very good. They are physical. We have had a lot of tight games with them over the years. It has always been nip and tuck.You look back at them games and it was always tough.

“The conditions won’t help because of the heavier pitches.”

Heavier conditions demand more from hurlers. They are coming from a club championship when they were playing on dry days and hard pitches. So both sides will have to adapt.

“You have to use the ball a bit more. In summer hurling there is fast ball and fast pace. There is a lot of movement. That won’t be possible when the grass is heavy. It will be tough going. You will be expected to be slow at times. There will be a lot of rucks. We are expecting a tough battle from Kerry.”

They have been training since the middle of September.

“It was good to get back with the group. The actual team, the way we are playing, we will pick up where we left off. The players coming back in after the club championship, everyone has come in at a decent level.

“It’s a bit different than normal years.

“We are trying to get everyone gelled back together.

“Getting used to the personnel is the big thing.”

To do that they have to play a series of inhouse games, just so that they can get used to playing with each other again. McCann said that competition for places has increased.

“A lot of fellas have got themselves fit over the lockdown period. And we are coming off the back of a very competitive Antrim championship.

“They have used the club championships to get themselves back into contention.

“It is going to be very interesting to see what happens. The squad is strong and it will be tough to get on now.”

One issue that McCann’s hopes won’t affect this weekend is Covid.

“It seems that the situation is getting more serious but we are maybe able to by-pass that. As long as it is safe, I think most players are happy to play.

“I think most players are concerned. You have to be real about the thing. When you go out on the pitch, you play as hard as you can. But as soon as that is over then it is a reality check.”