Saffrons keen to grab chance of silverware

By Niall Gartland

REACHING the Division 1B final was low down on the list of Antrim priorities at the start of the season, but now they’re there, joint-manager Martin Coulter is keen on making the most of the opportunity.

The Saffrons have been in red-hot form throughout their league campaign and will take on Clare this Saturday at Abbotstown for both the title and the sole promotion spot on offer to the top-flight.

Former Down hurler Martin Coulter is in his second year in charge alongside Loughgiel’s Carl McCormick, and he admits that they’ve exceeded expectations by even reaching the final.

Asked if making the final was on the bucketlist, he said: “Far from it, we’ve 11 new girls on the panel and another seven last year.

“We wanted to give those girls proper game-time for their own development and it’s been more important to try and retain them than trying to perform wonders in the league.

“So we’re in bonus territory to be honest – I suppose our win against Wexford at home on our first day out was a real indicator that we could maybe do something in the league, but this certainly wasn’t a priority at the outset of our campaign.”

As fate would have it, Antrim played their Division 1B final opponents Clare last weekend in their final group stage match last weekend, running out comfortable victors. It was very much a dead-rubber tie and Coulter isn’t reading anything into Clare’s performance.

“It was a bit of kidology to be fair, both teams were already through. We looked at the Clare panel and they seemed to avail of the opportunity to run through their entire squad from start to finish, and we sort of did the same with a few positions. Yes we won the game but it was of no relevance whatsoever for this Saturday’s game.”

It would be a significant achievement should Antrim win this Saturday’s final and book their spot in next season’s Division 1A among the elite teams in the country. It’d be a big step up but Coulter says they’d be up for the challenge should it come to pass.

“It’s winner-takes-all, only one team goes up and one team goes down so there’s a lot at stake so it’s definitely a big game.

“As good as Division 1B is, it’s a league we’re comfortable in. On any given day we could win or lose. If we’re promoted it’d be a big challenge with such a young team, but the way we look at it, we’re in bonus territory and we’re going to give it our all to try and win Saturday’s title.”