USFC Semi Final, Cavan V Antrim, Clones,Saturday 27th June at 7pm

[glens abu]

would like to see niblock and O'Boyle start.

[Our Nail Loney]

would like to see niblock and O'Boyle start.

Bradley says in Irish News today he isn't sure he is up for a full match yet, one second and I will post the article:

Last 12 the Antrim target says Bradley

By Paddy Heaney

23/06/09


Antrim manager Liam Bradley says he isn't daunted by the prospect of meeting a Cavan side that beat the Saffrons by five points in last year's Ulster Championship.

Neither is he worried at the idea of playing against the reigning All-Ireland champions in the provincial final.

For Bradley, the main ambition is for Antrim to reach "the last 12". He said: "If we beat Cavan, then we are down to the last 12 teams in the country. We would be happy to take it from there."

A place among the last dozen teams would be a huge achievement for this remarkably youthful Antrim side.

"The average age of the team that finished against Donegal was 21q years old," said Bradley.

The absence of 35-year-old 'keeper Sean McGreevy significantly reduced the average age of the Antrim team. The St Paul's man was forced to retire with a groin injury and it appears that he has not recovered in time for Saturday's semi-final clash in Clones.

U21 Peter Graham replaced McGreevy and the Creggan 'keeper is set to wear the number one jersey in St Tiernach's Park.

"He will be starting on Saturday for definite," said Bradley.

Graham is just one of a number of changes that Bradley might make to the side that lined out in Ballybofey.

Kevin Niblock, Kevin O'Boyle and Benny Hasson all made significant contributions when they came off the bench. Niblock probably made the biggest impact. He won a stack of possession after being introduced to the full-forward line. However, the Antrim manager hinted that Niblock could once again be held in reserve.

"We had to get the timing of the substitutions right against Donegal. We felt we played Kevin Niblock's to perfection.

"Kevin has done very little training because he is waiting on an operation. Whether he is fit enough to play a full game at this stage, we are not 100 per cent sure. We will have to monitor that."

The midfield sector will also cause Bradley some concern. Donegal won 61 per cent of the kick-outs and the Glenullin man clearly feels Benny Hasson could make a contribution in this area.

"With Benny you are talking about a man that is six-feet-six and 15-and-a-half-stone. Physically, he's hard to work with. He is an option for us as well."

While Niblock and Hasson will probably start on the bench, there is a strong chance Kevin O'Boyle has forced his way into the first 15. Apart from performing his defensive duties well, O'Boyle also kicked the winning point against Donegal and he will probably be rewarded for that display.

But it's unlikely that O'Boyle will be asked to mark Cavan's best player, Sean Johnston. That job will most likely fall to Colin Brady.

The Antrim defence will need no reminding of Johnston's potency as a forward. He scored six points from play when these sides met in last year's preliminary round.

On that occasion, Antrim opted not to play with a seventh defender, but the current management team can be expected to adopt a more cautious approach.

Wing-forward Terry O'Neill was deployed as a sweeper against Donegal and it would be a surprise if he didn't reprise that role against Cavan.

Meanwhile, Cavan manager Tommy Carr will announce his team tonight. It's believed Carr will keep faith with the side that lined out against Fermanagh, while Micheal Lyng and Paul Brady will be named among the substitutes. Lyng (injured) and Brady (playing handball) were unavailable for the win at Breffni Park.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Agree that a fully fit Niblock would be an asset to the Antrim side but if he's not 100% then he is a great option to come off the bench for the last 20/25mins.  Good at winning, holding on to and using posession and can cope with the physical side of the modern game.

[glens abu]

would like to see niblock and O'Boyle start.

Bradley says in Irish News today he isn't sure he is up for a full match yet, one second and I will post the article:

Last 12 the Antrim target says Bradley

By Paddy Heaney

23/06/09


Antrim manager Liam Bradley says he isn't daunted by the prospect of meeting a Cavan side that beat the Saffrons by five points in last year's Ulster Championship.

Neither is he worried at the idea of playing against the reigning All-Ireland champions in the provincial final.

For Bradley, the main ambition is for Antrim to reach "the last 12". He said: "If we beat Cavan, then we are down to the last 12 teams in the country. We would be happy to take it from there."

A place among the last dozen teams would be a huge achievement for this remarkably youthful Antrim side.

"The average age of the team that finished against Donegal was 21q years old," said Bradley.

The absence of 35-year-old 'keeper Sean McGreevy significantly reduced the average age of the Antrim team. The St Paul's man was forced to retire with a groin injury and it appears that he has not recovered in time for Saturday's semi-final clash in Clones.

U21 Peter Graham replaced McGreevy and the Creggan 'keeper is set to wear the number one jersey in St Tiernach's Park.

"He will be starting on Saturday for definite," said Bradley.

Graham is just one of a number of changes that Bradley might make to the side that lined out in Ballybofey.

Kevin Niblock, Kevin O'Boyle and Benny Hasson all made significant contributions when they came off the bench. Niblock probably made the biggest impact. He won a stack of possession after being introduced to the full-forward line. However, the Antrim manager hinted that Niblock could once again be held in reserve.

"We had to get the timing of the substitutions right against Donegal. We felt we played Kevin Niblock's to perfection.

"Kevin has done very little training because he is waiting on an operation. Whether he is fit enough to play a full game at this stage, we are not 100 per cent sure. We will have to monitor that."

The midfield sector will also cause Bradley some concern. Donegal won 61 per cent of the kick-outs and the Glenullin man clearly feels Benny Hasson could make a contribution in this area.

"With Benny you are talking about a man that is six-feet-six and 15-and-a-half-stone. Physically, he's hard to work with. He is an option for us as well."

While Niblock and Hasson will probably start on the bench, there is a strong chance Kevin O'Boyle has forced his way into the first 15. Apart from performing his defensive duties well, O'Boyle also kicked the winning point against Donegal and he will probably be rewarded for that display.

But it's unlikely that O'Boyle will be asked to mark Cavan's best player, Sean Johnston. That job will most likely fall to Colin Brady.

The Antrim defence will need no reminding of Johnston's potency as a forward. He scored six points from play when these sides met in last year's preliminary round.

On that occasion, Antrim opted not to play with a seventh defender, but the current management team can be expected to adopt a more cautious approach.

Wing-forward Terry O'Neill was deployed as a sweeper against Donegal and it would be a surprise if he didn't reprise that role against Cavan.

Meanwhile, Cavan manager Tommy Carr will announce his team tonight. It's believed Carr will keep faith with the side that lined out against Fermanagh, while Micheal Lyng and Paul Brady will be named among the substitutes. Lyng (injured) and Brady (playing handball) were unavailable for the win at Breffni Park.

thanks Nail

[A Quinn Martin Production]

There's an interview with Tony Scullion in the IN today.  Good to see that it appears the players haven't got carried away with the win over Donegal.

[Our Nail Loney]

There's an interview with Tony Scullion in the IN today.  Good to see that it appears the players haven't got carried away with the win over Donegal.

Tony's interview  :

Putting the work in

23/06/09


ANOTHER Monday morning. Half six comes early. The morning chill probably sharpened Tony Scullion's senses as he rolled out of bed. There would have been pain when his legs touched the floor.

Stiff and sore, but he'd been through it all before, it's an inter-county footballer's lot. Tough training, tough games. It's tough.

But something was different about this Monday morning. What was it? It was victory – the ointment that cures all aches and pains.

The previous day Antrim had beaten Donegal in Ballybofey in the first round of the Ulster Championship. It was the county's first Championship win in six years, Scullion's first in five years on the senior panel. The Saffrons stumbled over the line by a point, they rode their luck, but deserved their victory.

Tony must have had a contented smile on his face as he straightened up and hobbled off to prepare for his work as a building contractor and make the long drive from Cargin to a site in Ballynahinch. Life's not so bad.

"It was a long time coming, but worth waiting for," he said after a tough training session at the superb Creggan Kickham's club grounds last Wednesday evening.

"It was my first Ulster Championship win and it would be the highlight so far."

Antrim's great leap forward this year has come under the guidance of Liam Bradley and Niall Conway. First they won promotion from Division Four, now the team can look forward to Saturday's Ulster SFC semi-final against Cavan. Still in the Championship after the longest day of the year – heady days in the Saffron shirt.

"Everything seems to be going well at the minute," said Scullion.

"The training is good and Liam and Niall are fantastic, not to run down our past managers. Liam and Niall are gelling with the players very well and they've made a big contribution to the difference this year."

Scullion, the team's right half-back, played a massive part in the victory over Tir Chonaill. With an hour gone, things were nip-and-tuck. It was time for men to be men.

Donegal threatened to break down their right, Ciaran Bonner took possession near the touchline, Scullion moved across, dipped his shoulder and drove man and ball out of play. In its way, the challenge was as thrilling as any catch or score.

He took the sideline ball himself and it led to Tomas McCann's match-winning goal.

"I was more delighted with the win than the shoulder. Sure, you give a shoulder and sometimes you have to take them big shoulders," he said.

Antrim had been written off by the media, practically ignored, before the game. The spotlight is on them now, but Scullion is far too level-headed to get carried away by microphones and cameras.

"It fired us up to a certain extent, but you're not going to go out and lift your game because reporters don't come to your training sessions. I'm here to play football and enjoy myself. I'm not there to get my name in any paper."

Anyway, he's used to Antrim being written off. Long barren spells have led the faithful to lose heart.

"Playing for Antrim this last four or five years, any Championship match you go into you're always written off," he said.

"You know people are gonna be writing you off all the time, even people around your own doorstep.

"It makes it that wee bit harder to come and play for your county. People recognise you as a county player, but they don't think you're going to get any recognition for success – they're gonna say you're wasting your time.

"Usually, when we play a Championship match, it's a pat on the shoulder and a laugh behind your back, but this week it's the players who are laughing because 95 per cent of the population had Antrim written off."

The win has served only to whet his appetite, not satisfy it. Antrim's first appearance in an Ulster final since 1970 is only a game away. But Scullion knows Tommy Carr's Cavan will back themselves to do what Donegal could not.

"The job's not done yet. We've had a winning roll going all year and when you're winning football you enjoy it more," he said.

"Cavan are there, but Antrim didn't play great football against Donegal.

"It's alright saying we won, but we only beat Donegal by a point and they kicked 18 wides. We're not sitting on a high pedestal waiting to be knocked off it because the players know, and the management team knows, that there's still a lot of work to be done.

"There has to be a lot of defensive issues that have to be addressed. Nobody here will be going into the Cavan game thinking they're world-beaters because everybody knows that they're not."

Scullion says it as he sees it. Looking at things from an uncomplicated viewpoint allows him to see the bigger picture.

"I'm sure Cavan would rather face us than face Donegal, but we'll enjoy going into the game," he said.

"Once you get a bit of success, you want more – it's like money, once you get a bit you want to keep it coming in.

"You can only take one game at a time. We've crossed the Donegal hurdle, so we'll go on to the Cavan one now.

"The 25 or 30 players here and the mentors know that it's 15 against 15 – 30 hands and 30 feet. So what's the difference between us and Tyrone? Workrate has a lot to do with it – whatever you put into your players is what you'll get out."

Workrate won't be a problem for Scullion. He's a grafter. His attitude to life mirrors his attitude to football – head down, keep going, do what you need to do. All business.

"You have to pay the bills, you have to get up, there's no lying in bed to 12 o'clock like the students!

"When you've hire purchase bills to pay you get up out of your bed and put football to the back of your mind."

If Antrim beat Cavan on Saturday, Tony will probably be up for his work the following morning as usual. Maybe he'll take the Monday after the Ulster final off.

[ONeill]

I suppose the natural tendency is to worry about Seanie. However, Antrim need to focus on themselves - if they run at Cavan whilst exercising a degree of shrewdness when it comes to dealing with Johnstone then a final berth is theirs. I'd like to see Niblock nab a starting position. He's a ball winner, strong and intelligent. He's the sort of boyo who'll feed hunk-of-the-week Cunningham who isn't the speediest forward in the business.

100 years ago Antrim bate Cavan in the final during the middle of a six-in-a-row sequence. In 1918 Cavan returned the favour, keeping Antrim scoreless. Hopefully neither result will have a bearing on Saturday night.

Wonder what SS2 thinks.

[imtommygunn]

Niblock would be a good ball winning option. I'd like to see McCann further out the field too. .Only thing is he maybe wouldn't trouble the scoreboard

I think this Cavan CHB can be troubled greatly if we play a conventional CHF and go at them. Based on what I hear from Cavan people on here anyway... That being said I think the Cavan FF will trouble us.

I'd give McCann at corner back  deserves another chance.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Cavan name unchanged side...Brady and Lyng on the bench

[cavan4ever]

There are the same amount of pages on the Down V London thread as this one,  is there any interest in this game atall. 


Whats the story up in Antrim is there many travelling down?

[pebble-dasher]

Have heard of a few s.w. clubs running buses, hope to see a big crowd of saffron in clones.

My team on sunday would be

Graham (if there was any other keeper in the county on the panel they would be on instead.)

Brady, Mc Lean, K OB
Scullion, Crozier, Loughrey

Mick, Gallagher

Tomas Niblock Mckeever
O'neill Cunningham Close

With o'neill playing that sweeper role.

Very very tight game, head says cavan by 3, heart says antrim by 2. 

[Mr. Nakata]

My Antrim buddies at work are in a frenzy, never seen them so excited. They're talking about their clubs running buses and organizing nights out afterwards. I'd say there will be a massive saffron posse. Great time for throw-in 7pm as well, perfect for the neutral and creamy pint consumption.

[cavan4ever]

I think if Antrim play with a sweeper it will suit Cavan.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

From talking to people back home I think there'll be a good crowd of Antrim supporters

[cavanmaniac]

I'm really looking forward to the match.

Cavan need to be wary of a very peppy Antrim making a storming start with a good crowd behind them and their players all bouyed up and free from expectation. If Cavan aren't fully switched on about their business early in the match with enough possession to take the sting out of Antrim in the opening quarter, it would be a very uphill battle trying to claw back a lead against their massed and extremely hard working defence.

That said, Donegal only really started playing for the last quarter hour, could have kicked 15 wides and still won by one against them, so chances will come Cavan's way in the game for sure. For me it all boils down to Cavan's attitude, we have to play from the off like we're underdogs and not favourites, the favourites tag doesn't sit well with us at all and the attitude we take into the game will have a vital bearing. Overall, I think we have relatively more experience, enough quality passers, pace and scorers to unlock Antrim and outpoint them over the distance, with the bonus of serious quality and experience on the bench in Gunner, Larry, Pierson and Lyng. (Is Jayo still crocked as well?) I'd respectfully suggest that if these players were in Antrim, they'd be starting and it bodes well for us that we can hold them in reserve. It's crucial for Carr's long term plans that we don't lose this, it'd be extremely undermining after getting over the perceived tougher hurdle v Fermanagh. If we could just win this, I wouldn't give a shite about the Ulster final it'd be just brilliant to get there in year one under a new manager with such a young side.

Only a loony would suggest Cavan will win this easy because there's little enough between the sides, but I think we'll narrowly avoid the banana skin and scrape home by about 2-3 points, and might even score a goal too.

Cavan 1-14 Antrim 1-12