Donnelly says Antrim are eager to add to their success

Antrim hurler Mattie Donnelly says that he and his team mates are focused on winning the Joe McDonagh cup, even though this season has already been very successful.

Last weekend, the Saffron hurlers defeated Kerry in the National Hurling League Division 2A final. The result earned them passage to the top tier of hurling next year, when they will play the best teams in the country.

Donnelly said: “It was important to win. We want to compete at that level.

“It has always been nip and tuck between us and Kerry. It was great to get to the other side.”

The game should have been played way back in March, but the covid-19 pandemic put paid to that.

“We always thought that it was going to be played. We ewre preparing for it to be played. We were glad that it finally happened, and glad that we came out on top.”

The challenge for Antrim was trying to get points on the board. They had an early blow when key free-taker Neil McManus went of injured but they were able to adapt.

“It was difficult. (Neil McManus) came off but Domhnall Nugent came on. It showed that we had other forwards to rely on. James McNaughton and Coby (Cunning) are great free takers. It shows that the depth is there.”

Their next challenge is the Joe McDonagh cup and the team must come down from the high of gaining promotion.

Donnelly believes they can do so. They play Westmeath on Sunday at Corrigan Park (2pm).

“If we win the Joe McDonagh cup then we move up to the Leinster Championship next year. That’s the goal that we need.

“We are going out against Westmeath this weekend and they will not be easy beat. We played them twice last year. They beat us by a point , and then by nine. They are a great side. They have up their standards and it will be a big test.”

Donnelly himself has not had as much game time as he would have liked. He missed a championship game against Tipperary, but he’s hoping that he will get more time on the field during the McDonagh Cup.

“We have played a lot of inhouse games. I need to push on.”