NEIL McManus believes that the idea of a Team Ulster “is not going to be entertained in Antrim”, and says he fears for what would happen to hurling in the province if it came to fruition.
The idea has long been mooted as a potential solution to the province’s woes in the small ball game, and the idea has been revived since Graham Clarke backed it in The Irish News last week.
Chrissy McKaigue, Eoghan Sands, Declan Coulter and Sean Óg Grogan were among the players to give it their backing in interviews with Jerome Quinn this week, as well as Slaughtneil boss and Ballycastle native Michael McShane.
However, while McManus admitted that a properly functioning Team Ulster would have a better chance of truly competing at Liam McCarthy Cup level than the current Antrim side, he fears the potential unintended consequences could do more harm than good.
Having almost always dominated Ulster hurling, many would see Antrim’s involvement as critical to the potential success of a Team Ulster.
Others within the county have indicated to The Irish News that they hold a similar stance as McManus.
When asked if it would represent a better chance of competing with the big guns, the province's most high-profile hurler replied: “Probably, to be fair.
“You would certainly have a better chance than Antrim have now, that’s the long and short of it.
“You take Brendan Rogers alone, imagine adding him to the Antrim forward line, that one player would transform it. [Shane] McGuigan, Chrissy [McKaigue], these are incredible players who’d make your team stronger, there’s no doubt about that.
“It’s very hard to see past the practicalities of it and the problems there.
“One thing I’d always go back to is what happens those county teams if they don’t have their strongest players there? What would happen to Antrim if nine or ten of the lads are away playing for a Team Ulster?
“It would genuinely scare me. Does hurling stop for those counties then? Some of those counties are operating with very small panels.
“It could demotivate so many people and it could almost be a wee bit selfish.
“I really think you’d be doing an awful disservice to every county if Team Ulster had sole access to those players.”
McManus believes that the support from southern counties for the idea is undermined by a lack of understanding of the logistical challenges it would present.
The Antrim star also believes that if a Team Ulster was to be properly examined, then the GAA would have to look at other areas as well.
“I would be happy to look at a proposal.
“If they want to do this, they’d have to do it for Connacht and the northern area of Leinster.
“With all due respect, a lot of people from the south who think it’s a good idea think that Ulster’s this wee small place and we’re all right beside Belfast.
“They don’t realise it’s some journey for a lad from Donegal to go for training. You can drive in Donegal for 90 minutes and still be in the county. Logistically and practically, it’s a total and utter nightmare.”
McManus “loved” his days playing with Ulster in the inter-provincial series but says that he grew up wanting to play for Cushendall and Antrim.
He feels his native county, who are one game away from a return to Division One hurling if the National League is given a green light to resume later in the year, are happy on their own.
“I love playing for Antrim, I absolutely love representing Antrim and Cushendall because they’re part of me.
“You’re born and bred in your village, your club is everything to you. From a very young age my father was taking me to Casement Park to watch Antrim and that became an aspiration.
“A Team Ulster playing Dublin in an All-Ireland quarter-final, how could it mean as much to you as Antrim or Cushendall means now?
“I don’t think it’s a runner. Say Antrim won the league final and we’re into Division One, and Team Ulster gets ratified and ten lads are away playing for it, do Antrim just go back to Division Three?
“It’s not going to be entertained in Antrim, let’s be honest.”
