ANTRIM HAVE UPSET ODDS
BARNEY:
“The same thing happened in 2012 when Pillar (Caffrey) was involved. Mayo came out, got their picture and went down towards the Hill.
“Then Dublin came out, got their picture and went down towards the Hill. Then there were things going on and Mayo did go up the other end. It was all mind games.”
What’s it like when Dean got picked for Dublin?
“He ended up having to wait until he was 25 to get his first full game for Dublin. He never got a game under Pat Gilroy. He had to wait until Jim Gavin came along.
RODDY: Did he ever say, ‘am I wasting my time here?’ At 24, did he ever have doubts? BARNEY: “Pat Gilroy just didn’t like the look of him back then.
“Him and James (McCarthy) were coming through, and they had won the Minor but they weren’t getting a look in.
“Dean turned around and said, ‘Listen Pat, I’ve an opportunity to go to America to play football’. Pat said he should go.
“Pat was there for three years and Dean didn’t get an opportunity.
“In 2014 he had a cameo role and in 2015 Jim decided they needed a free-kick taker, so Dean was ever-present for around 65 matches in a row and the rest is history.”
GLEN DIMPLEX ALL-IRELAND PREMIER JUNIOR FINAL ANTRIM V ARMAGH 12pm (Mike Ryan, Tipperary) Live on RTÉ2
NOT too many were expecting an appearance in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior decider to be on the cards when Antrim decided to establish a second team to provide a pathway through the senior side.
Indeed there were fears in some quarters that it would prove a deflating experience for the younger players in particular, if they were to suffer some chastening defeats.
Those fears have long since been assuaged and after one of the most dramatic games of camogie we are likely to see this year, they are now a game away from gaining possession of the Kathleen Mills Cup for the third time in the county’s history.
In contrast to Antrim, Armagh began the season as favourites, having landed the spoils for the second time 2020 and then giving best only to a strong Wexford unit by just three points last year.
Intrigue
There is an added element of intrigue to this encounter in that Jim McKernan, a long-time Antrim legend, who stood down as joint manager of the Saffrons with Paul McKillen after senior status was secured with intermediate glory last season, now returns to Croke Park in opposition to his native county, and to the joint managers, Brian Kearney and Mark McFadden he knows so well.
He has also enjoyed ultimate success at club level at HQ with Slaughtneil.