Rebels must take Antrim threat seriously, warns Conran

WEXFORD hurling boss John Conran doesn't expect Antrim to bring off a sensational result by beating Cork in Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final.

But, the famed Rathnure clubman has a warning for the Rebels: underestimate them at your peril.

Conran said: "We did that a year ago and came perilously close to paying the penalty''.

At the end of the day, Wexford had to pull out all the stops to beat the Glensmen in the closing five minutes.

"Antrim were a very good team last year," Conran said. "And while they haven't had a very impressive league campaign neither had Wexford. Yet we have beaten the All-Ireland champions and regained the Leinster title."

Conran has not seen Antrim "in the flesh'' since last year's quarter-final. "It may well be that they have gone back a bit," he said. "However, most of last year's team are still there and good hurlers don't become bad ones overnight."

"They will come all fired up, and despite being the rank outsiders they won't be believing that they are without a chance," he said. "They can be a very difficult opposition to shift on certain days, and Cork will need to go out and play them with the same fervour they brought to their game against Tipperary."

Conran said he was impressed with the way Cork hurled in the second half against Tipp in the qualifiers. "On their day they are capable of beating any opposition - Kilkenny and Wexford included," he said.

Conran feels that like Wexford last year, Cork may find it difficult to deal with the "complacency factor". His advice is to approach the game with extreme caution and show Antrim the respect they deserve.

"Cork have an array of talent all over the field, but they must still treat Antrim with caution. The championship is just the place for shock results, and Cork will need to be mentally right," Conran added.

Looking to the Kilkenny/Clare quarter final, he admits to fancying Kilkenny but feels it will "going right down to the wire''.

"Kilkenny looked awesome in their demolition of Galway but the Tribesmen were way off the pace that day. Galway looked every inch a team that wasn't up for it'', he said.

"It will be a very different ball game on Sunday with Clare matching Kilkenny in the physical stakes and well able to hurl too."

He believes Clare are over their first round humiliation by Waterford, and having regrouped will be giving Sunday's game "one right lash''.

"I wouldn't rule out their chances, but overall you would have to fancy Kilkenny," he said.