The only way is up for Antrim

Kevin Ryan accepts Antrim will not progress beyond today’s All-Ireland U21 semi-final.

It is by no means a defeatist attitude, rather the manager’s realistic approach. It is the only currency he knows.

The Saffrons suffered a 28-point hammering by Clare at this stage last year, a slight stretch on Dublin’s 26-point mauling the summer previous and, given preparations for the current campaign have bordered on the shambolic,