McKinley laments Antrim’s Ulster monopoly

THE first provincial senior hurling final takes place tomorrow when Antrim and Down go head to head at Casement Park. But does anyone care outside the province?

It’s seen as a foregone conclusion - unbackable favourites Antrim already have their ticket to the Liam McCarthy competition and face Galway in a couple of weeks, while Down are happy to be heading for the Christy Ring.

But, is it good enough that year after year, lip service is paid by the GAA powerbrokers about doing something to help Ulster hurling, but year after year nothing is done? Antrim joint manager Dominic McKinley is not happy.

“An Ulster championship has its place, but more and more it’s not looking too bright for any of us here. You look at the roll of honour at underage in recent years — and as a manager that’s what you’re looking to, the underage — but it doesn’t look like there’s ever going to be a change there. Antrim are winning everything. You want to be seriously challenged year in, year out, but it’s not happening.

“We had a very good minor team for a few years recently, and I’m convinced they would have reached an All-Ireland final at least, but with the level of competition we get here we just weren’t ready for the bigger teams.

“We’re talking this past five or six years about doing something for Ulster hurling, but it’s only talk, nothing is happening. We’re severely handicapped here, and something has to be done to change that.”

He added: “We’ll be going in as favourites, we’ll have to accept that, but our attitude needs to be right. If it is, if we’re focused properly, there’s every possibility we’ll win it.”

What incentive have Down, since they can’t qualify for McCarthy?

“I can assure you they would love to put one over Antrim. There’s been great rivalry over the years and they won a few in the 90’s. If we win it we won’t be jumping around the place, we won’t be going mad about it, but the other side of it is if you lose, it’s only when it’s gone that you miss it.

“Some of our players have won six or seven Ulster titles in a row, they don’t want to start losing now. We’re up for it, but so are Down. When you’re mad underdogs, everyone talking you down, you’re bound to respond in some sort of positive way. Down are coming in to this with nothing to lose; Jim (McKernan, Down manager) is a past manager of Antrim and he’d love to turn us all over.”

If Antrim are right, and as Dominic admits, even in the absence of Achilles tendon injury victim Michael McGill they should win this. But with players of the class of Graham Clarke, Paul Branniff, Brendan McGourty, Andy Savage and Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnston, Down are there with a chance.

Verdict: Antrim.