The good news first. Our county representatives James Loughrey and Declan O’Hagan kept up the momentum with sterling contributions in Antrim’s vital away win in Roscommon to maintan the Saffrons’ 100% record in NFL Div3 and boost their prospects of promotion with three matches remaining. Well done, lads.
In their inaugural Div 4 outing, the reserves, whose panel was shorn due to the seniors challenge match clash, found the experienced St Paul’s, who had no such dual commitments, too much to handle as the visitors left Musgrave with the well deserved two points.
The seniors’ preparation and performance against Downpatrick was not helped by the late arrival of almost half the team, yet despite an insipid first half display they went in level at the interval thanks to goals from Joe Brolly and Benny Reilly. Indeed, had the lively Chris McCann converted the penalty that he had won, the visitors would have enjoyed an unlikely and undeserved half time lead.
The less said about the second period, the better, as the personnel changes made at the interval contrived to worsen things quickly beyond repair. As the midfield and beyond went missing without trace, and the hoops scythed through barely token resistance to score at will, it would have been a mercy to see the match fizzle out quickly but the referee was under direction to allow an extended 70 minutes, which seemed an eternity in the circumstances. Nonetheless, in the darkest hour, there is always a shining light, and the performances of both corner backs Ciaran Mackle and Paddy O’Driscoll were creditable in the mire.
With league action just four weeks away, today’s performance – sorry, capitulation – against a mid-Div 2 Down side was a stark reality check. Well, at least it should be! But the value of pre-season matches is often in the deficiencies they expose. All else left aside, today’s lesson would be: ATTITUDE. Time to knuckle down, lads.
