Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B: Antrim v Westmeath (Sunday, Corrigan Park, 2pm)
IF Antrim Gaels were expecting Davy Fitzgerald to arrive in the county flashing his best smile, pressing the flesh and telling everybody that the good times are here again, they couldn’t be more mistaken.
Clare’s two-time All-Ireland winning goalkeeper and 2013 All-Ireland winning manager has been actively suppressing expectations - at least publicly.
Fitzgerald even made the case for Antrim being second favourites in every Division 1B game this season.
“If you ask Offaly, I’m sure they’re targeting Antrim,” he said last week. “Westmeath beat us in the League last year. They’re not going to fear us. I was at the game two or three years ago in Portlaoise when Laois beat us. They’re not going to fear us.
“Carlow will think they’ll be there or thereabouts. None of those teams fears Antrim.”
Equally, Antrim won’t fear Westmeath, Laois, Carlow or Offaly either.
They’re all winnable games.
And Waterford, Antrim’s other opponent in the new-look Division 1B, got it tight the last time they visited Corrigan Park in 2022, so there are League points up for grabs everywhere the Ulstermen turn despite their 14-point drubbing at the hands of Dublin last Saturday night.
As the charismatic Clare man looks forward to his first home game as Antrim manager tomorrow, Davy Fitz is searching for the balance between stylistic changes and putting some league points on the board.
While the Antrim players get to grips with the manager’s way of doing things, there’s nothing Westmeath manager Seoirse Bulfin doesn’t know about Fitzgerald’s philosophy.
Bulfin and Fitzgerald were joined at the hip at Clare, Waterford and Wexford and it’ll be no surprise if the Limerick man takes the same hurling copyright to Westmeath.
Bulfin and Fitzgerald are disciples of the sweeper system, with its critics insisting it doesn’t yield big enough tallies.
Attacking-wise, Antrim didn’t look great in Croke Park last Saturday night, mining a measly half dozen points from play across 70 minutes.
“If you look at the sweeper system from the outside in, it can look defensive,” Bulfin said, “but, ultimately, what it’s doing is allowing for somebody else to get up the field.
“It’s not necessarily about having seven back. Davy’s had a lot of success with it and if you see something working, you’ll not change too much. He believes in that system, and it hasn’t really let him down yet.”
There were a few square pegs in round holes in the Antrim team last weekend as Fitzgerald continues to survey his options from a skinny enough squad of 31 players.
“I would say you have to play a game that suits the players you have,” Bulfin said.
“Currently in Westmeath we’re trying to mix it up a small bit because you don’t have one type of out-and-out player that suits a particular style. We’re seeing what works best for Westmeath right now. We’re still trying to find our strengths.”
The experienced Davy Glennon is just back for the visitors to Corrigan Park tomorrow, while brilliant free-taker Killian Doyle is also expected to return after a period away travelling but not in time for his county’s first Division 1B game of the season following last week’s postponed game with Laois.
Bulfin was alongside Fitzgerald when Wexford drew with Antrim at Corrigan Park in 2021 and knows the environs the Westmeath players will encounter.
“I was talking to the players about this last night,” Bulfin said. “Corrigan Park is a very, very tough place to go for a visiting team. It’s very imposing, claustrophobic but it also makes for a great atmosphere with the crowd around the pitch.”
Antrim have two distinct advantages over Westmeath. They’ve home advantage and a competitive game under their belts. That should be enough for a home win.