Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U21 HC semi-final: Antrim v Waterford (today, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 4pm, extra-time if necessary)
ANTRIM manager Ollie Bellew rightly describes this meeting as ‘David versus Goliath’.
Before going any further, lets remember that David actually beat Goliath way back when: but Antrim beating star-studded Waterford? That would be an even greater shock.
That’s no disrespect to this Antrim side or their manager Bellew, it’s just the way it is and success for the Glensmen today would be producing a performance that offers hope for the future.
“We know we’re taking on a team on the crest of a wave tomorrow so realistically we’re poles apart,” said St Gall’s clubman Bellew.
“But, looking at the group of players that I have, they’re good honest guys and when they represent their clubs any one of them would back themselves against any hurler.
“I’m hoping that they can recreate what they do with their clubs – given where we are this year and the way things have gone for Antrim, that’s what we’ve got to hope for.”
Bellew says the struggles at senior level have “affected the whole county” and hopes that today’s semi-final can be the start of something for Antrim.
Despite the dark cloud hovering over their county, the U21s won their eighth consecutive Ulster title when, after beating Down in the semi, they came from four points behind in the second half to see off Derry in the final on July 27.
“It’s been tough for Antrim people over the last couple of years because the hurling just hasn’t been going well at all,” said Bellew.
“That atmosphere is around the whole county and we all feel it. The only good thing that has come out of that is that there’s an extra buzz about our clubs.
“I believe we have the best club championship in the country and I think it’s going to be even better this year. There’s a tough 'oul atmosphere about but the players are going down tomorrow and there’s no pressure on them – we’re hoping that they can go down and put on a performance that they’re capable of.
“Hopefully that’ll give us some glimmer of hope for the new management coming in that there’s talent there because all the lads we have are all very capable. I just hope they can pull it together tomorrow and show the rest of the county that they’ve got something to look forward to.”
It’s an understatement to say that this Waterford side would give a lot of senior teams a game. They will include a clutch of players from the side that pushed Kilkenny to the pin of their collars in this month’s thrilling drawn All-Ireland semi-final and the subsequent replay.
Patrick Curran, Austin and Conor Gleeson, Tom Devine and Shane and Stephen Bennett all featured against the Cats and slot into a Decies side that whipped Tipperary 2-19 to 0-15 to land their first Munster title since 1992 last month.
Austin Gleeson scored 1-1 against Kilkenny and Shane Bennett hit two excellent points but, despite the scoring power in the Waterford ranks, the Antrim mindset won’t focus on ‘damage-limitation’ according to Bellew.
“I don’t won’t the lads to be a part of that,” he said.
“We all grew up to love the game because we enjoy it and if we adopted the tactics that are creeping into football it could all go pear-shaped and you’d lose your passion for the game.”
“The lads will be told to go out and enjoy it.”
Bellew has kept faith with "the lads who steered us through Ulster” so Christy McNaughton, James Connolly, Cormac McAllister and Ryan Gillen will start on the bench but all four will feature in the game.
“We know what we’re facing and what we’re up against,” he said.
“But at the same time it’s an opportunity to go out and enjoy the occasion. We have a great bunch of players so it’s not about going for some sort of honourable defeat, I want the lads to go out and hurl the way they’ve been brought up to hurl.”
Antrim (probable): C Heyden; G Walsh, T Burns, O McManus; D McMullan, P Burke, R McCambridge; A Delargy, C Ross; M Connolly, D Nugent, J O’Connell; S McCaughan, T Butler, R McKee
Waterford (possible): J Henley; W Hahessy, C Gleeson, D Lyons; M Harney, A Gleeson, C Prunty; M O'Brien, C Roche; DJ Foran, T Devine, M Kearney; P Curran, Shane Bennett, Stephen Bennett
Meanwhile, Galway face Dublin in the second game at Thurles tomorrow (6pm),
Senior players Conor Whelan, Brian Molloy and Eanna Burke have been included for the Tribesmen.
Dublin have made two changes to the team that overcame Offaly in the Leinster final. Fionn O Riain Broin replaces Cian Hendricken at left corner back, while Cian Boland comes in for Chris Bennett in the forward line.
