Antrim have regained pride, insists O’kane
Selector reflects on long journey as Saffrons eye Cup delight
GARY O’kane well remembers the euphoria that engulfed the Antrim dressing room in Croke Park back in 1989 when a stunning victory over fancied Offaly was recorded in a momentous All-ireland Hurling Championship semi-final.
O’kane, a teak-tough defender, was a member of a side that showed it could hold its own with the best of them, even though Tipperary were to gain the upper hand in the subsequent All-ireland final.
Since then, O’kane’s untiring service to his county has been maintained in a variety of roles, and right now, in his capacity as a key member of Darren Gleeson’s management team, he is hoping that the Saffrons can once again hit the high spots when they take on Kerry in the prestigious Joe Mcdonagh Cup final at Headquarters on Sunday (1pm).
Having already earned promotion to Division One following a Division 2A final victory over Sunday’s opponents, the future would appear to look rosy for Antrim, but O’kane makes no secret of pinpointing the difficulties which have been encountered along the route to progress.
“I can recall just a couple of years ago being at my wit’s end when I was making Friday night telephone calls to rustle up a team to meet Wicklow that weekend,” reflected O’kane.
“Players just didn’t seem to want to play for Antrim. We were the poor relations. But thankfully we slowly but surely hauled ourselves out of that bleak position.
“The contrast with where we are now could hardly be greater. We have a 32-strong panel, with every player justifiably looking upon himself as a potential starter, we are getting great backing from the county board and, since coming in as manager just less than a year ago, Darren Gleeson has worked wonders.
“He has put the pride back into Antrim hurling and I have no doubt that it will be a big spur when the team steps out at Croke Park. It has been a difficult year for many people because of Covid-19 but we would like to think that we can put a smile not just on the faces of Antrim folk but on the faces of Ulster people in general come Sunday.”
The considerable impact that Tipperary All-ireland winner Gleeson has made since taking up the managerial reins has been such that self-belief now courses through Antrim’s veins, their also-rans label having been clinically discarded.
Captain Conor Mccann is in no doubt that the mindset which Gleeson and the rest of his management team have instilled in the squad will stand them in good stead on Sunday.
“There is a great overall spirit within this team, we are all playing for each other. We have a stronger range of scorers now, the boys out the field are toiling hard to create the chances for our inside men and the workload is definitely being shared equally,” asserted Mccann.
“Conditions at this time of the year, even in Croke Park, can make big demands on players, but we are ready to put in the tough, hard labour that we know it will take to achieve success on Sunday. It’s a case of no pain, no gain after all.”
With Neil Mcmanus expected to play some part in the match having been an absentee of late because of injury, Antrim have been further buoyed for what is their biggest assignment for some considerable time.
And for the county’s PRO Sean Kelly, the match will have special significance.
The popular Kelly is standing down after five years in his role, although there is a possibility that he could yet be seen in a fresh capacity with the Ulster Council.
“I would j ust l ove to see Antrim win. It would certainly mean that I could bow out on a high. I have thoroughly enjoyed my term in office, during which I have made a host of new friends. It has also provided me with many wonderful memories I will treasure,” revealed Kelly.