Down prepare to face off against Antrim in Senior Championship

Down and Antrim expect a tough battle in Ulster Semi-Final

Down and Antrim prepare to face off in the first of the NWP Recycling Ulster Senior Championship Semi-Finals this Sunday in Ballycran. With both teams having mixed league campaigns they will be firmly focused on this clash in the Ard Peninsula. In last year’s Ulster Championship Down nearly caused a bit of a surprise by narrowly losing out to Derry after extra time in their Semi-Final when a victory seemed likely going into the dying minutes of normal time. In contrast Antrim were easily despatched off in the Ulster Final in Casement Park. Sunday’s clash however will see two evenly matched teams hoping to build for the rest of the year ahead.

Down manager Alistair McGilligan expects another tight Semi-Final. “The game against Antrim will be a tight battle which we have home advantage which will be give us a boost. It has been about two or three years since we have played each other in league or championship so it will be great game. Antrim have new management and will have fresh faces in the squad but it’s another big challenge for us. The Ulster Championship comes at a great time of the year to assist your preparations for the All-Ireland series”.

Reflecting back on their game against Derry last year the La Salle College Belfast teacher who was only weeks into the position of Down manager thinks that performance was the best they had in 2012. “We probably had a surprise element against Derry last year and was probably our best performance of the year. It was unfortunate that we didn’t carry that into the All-Ireland campaign. Playing Derry was a challenge we enjoyed and hopefully we’ll get that challenge again this year. The Premier Junior is the ultimate goal this year however and we hope to get back to Croke Park in September.

Managers of the 2013 Inter-County Camogie teams

Antrim manager Jim McKernan is his first year in control of the Antrim Camogie team and is focused on a steadying a rocky ship and rebuilding for the future. Despite some dogged performances Antrim only won one game in the National League. “ We got off to a slow start and gradually got things together in the league. There are a few players who are unavailable this year for various reasons but we have moved on and have used the league to strengthen the experience of the squad”.

McKernan is a former Antrim and Down senior hurling manager and won the Christy Ring Cup in 2006 with his native Saffron County. Jingo doesn’t think much will separate the sides come Sunday. “Down are in a similar position to ourselves and were unlucky not to win the Premier Junior title last year. There won’t be much between the sides when it comes down to it. Both teams are aware there is a bit of a gap between ourselves and Derry should either of us meet them in the Ulster Final however we got to aspire to be at that level but we’ll take it one day as it comes. We have a young squad and we need to rebuild. This year is about steadying the ship and building for the years ahead”.

NWP Recycling Ulster Senior Championship Semi-Final

Down v Antrim

Ballycran 1.45pm Sunday 26 ^th May