Antrim's Dermot McAleese pictured at the launch of the Tailteann Cup. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Dermot McAleese remains optimistic about Antrim football. Injuries disturbed McAleese in 2023, but the recent evidence suggests Antrim are making progress.
Andy McEntee has forged a good connection with a talented panel that has already chalked up a couple of victories in the Tailteann Cup. Sunday’s clash against Sligo will determine who tops Group Two, while also earning a quarter-final berth.
“We believe we are making steps forward now, maybe it slowed down a bit over the course of the league this year, we had quite a few injuries,” McAleese remarks about Antrim’s development.
“We've blooded a lot of younger players, who have been doing pretty well, and getting some of the older faces back, coming into the summer. Hopefully we can push on to do pretty well in the Tailteann Cup.”
McAleese feels that there is significant potential in Antrim. “We believe we can get to a higher level than we are at the minute, to be up in Division Two, pushing for the Tailteann Cup, making that step,” he adds.
“We've a young panel with a mix of experience too, I think the raw ingredients are there for us to make good strides in the coming years.”
Antrim reached the penultimate stage of the 2023 Tailteann Cup. Operating at Croke Park was a boost and McAleese wants Antrim to return to that grand stage more frequently. “We had a brilliant run, getting to Croke Park,” he says.
Dermot McAleese leads the Antrim team on the pre-match parade ahead of the 2024 Ulster SFC encounter against Down. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
“It isn't too often that Antrim's football team gets to play at Croke Park in the latter stages of the summer. That was really encouraging and it has whetted the appetite for the lads.
“In the last couple of weeks, it is getting to that time of the year, and we would love to get back there.
“In years gone by, you're maybe out of the Ulster Championship, and have one more game. Now you have at least three group games and the opportunity to get another couple of games, if you do well.
“So, in terms of the development of a team, it is absolutely brilliant. We've felt the benefits of that, last year, especially, and hopefully this year, we can take another step forward.”
Positivity is key, the sense that the current Antrim team is travelling in the right direction under McEntee. “That is it, in other years we were struggling in Division Four and it felt like you were stuck in the mud, really,” McAleese responds.
“In the last couple of years we've got into Division Three, we've consolidated that. Again, the run in the Tailteann Cup, it is progress, getting an outing at Croke Park.
“Now, it is about taking the next step, to push on to a higher level again. There is plenty of positivity within the group, we are an ambitious group. We are putting in a lot of work behind the scenes, hopefully over time that will come to fruition on the pitch.”
