National Hurling League Division 2A final

Antrim v Kerry

Saturday, Croke Park, 1pm

When interviewed this week, ahead of their National League hurling final, Paddy Burke repeatedly used the word0 attack, when describing the Saffron attitude.

He said that they wanted to attack this final, attack their training, and approach everything with attack on their mind.

To put it another way, there was a sense of urgency in what they are trying to do this year.

“We are just trying to keep the work rate up on the team. We have had a big focus on our work rate.

“We are just trying to get that attitude right, and the work rate up. We want to get out there and attack this game. We are looking forward to the league final. It is where we want to be. Promotion was one of the aims at the start of the year. We are looking forward to the game.”

Last weekend, Antrim played their refixed game against Offaly, which had been postponed by the storm.

Offaly looked like the better team throughout, but Antrim put on a grand stand finish and scored two late goals, from Neil McManus and Conor McCann to secure their place in the final, and end the Faithful county’s hopes of promotion.

For Burke, there was a mixed feeling about the game.

“It was an OK performance. It was not the same performance that we had the week before. We were happy just to get the result. We had set out at the start to try and win all the games. Offaly are a good team. We have played them a good bit in the last few years. It was always going to be tough.”

The previous week was their win over Kerry, a six-point victory that put them in a great position to get promotion.

“We have had a good solid campaign. If you had offered us four wins and a draw, and a place in the league final at the start of the campaign then we would have been delighted.”

Their opponents this weekend are Kerry, a team that the Saffrons know very well having played them regularly in the past few years.

Last year when they met in the Joe McDonagh Cup, Antrim won by 3-19 to 0-14. Kerry had won the Division 2A round clash though.

In the 2018 Joe McDonagh Cup, Kerry won 2-21 to 1-20.

“It is going to be a physical game. Any time that we have played them it is physical. There is only ever a puck of the ball between us. It is going to be down what happens on the day.

“We want to go in and attack the game with the same attitude that we have had all year.”

Antrim played Kerry a fortnight ago and won, but Burke pointed out that in that match, Kerry were missing a few key players due to an outbreak of the mumps.

“They should have their full team out and it is up to us to match them.

“Colum Harty was one of the players who was missing. He is one of the best players in the country. He is known all over the country.”

Antrim have their fair share of good players too.

Burke said that the squad has embraced the increased intensity and professionalism that manager Darren Gleeson has brought in this year.

“There is a serious competition for places. Everyone is going out and attacking it (training).

“If you have got a jersey, you are trying to keep it. If you don’t have a jersey then you are trying to get one.”

So how does he respond to that pressure?

“It’s not pressure. It’s enjoyable. This is what you want as a player. You enjoy the competition for places. That’s what you want when you are playing on the county team.”

What they hope to achieve from that competition is a place in division one.

“It would be massive for Antrim, to be back hurling in divisione one. That is where we want to be, to be up there hurling against the best. We have missed the opportunity of playing against the best.

“It would be good if the younger players could see this group of players competing in the top tier as it might inspire them to keep hurling.”

All Burke has to do know is to go out and attack the final.