By Michael McMullan

ANTRIM must put their defeat to Dublin behind them ahead of Sunday’s visit of Westmeath to Corrigan Park.

It will be the Lake County’s first game after their opener against Leinster rivals Laois was postponed last weekend.

It’s the Saffrons’ first season under new manager Davy Fitzgerald and they’ll hope to tap into their home league form from previous campaigns.

The 14-point Dublin winning margin raised a few eyebrows last weekend. That said, it will have told Fitzgerald more than any amount of training sessions will have offered him about his side.

They’ll have rued a wastefulness in front of the posts with many efforts dropping short.

Conall Cunning is missing through injury, but they’ll have to develop the sum of everyone else ahead of the cutting-edge part of the season.

Carlow and Offaly played out a draw last weekend, suggesting the rest of the division are on a mission to nab second spot behind the Dubs.

That’s why a win this weekend is paramount for Antrim. They’ve hurled with the best at home.

James McNaughton landed 10 points in Croker last weekend. They’ve a top ‘keeper in Ryan Elliott with Eoghan Campbell and Paddy Burke key defenders.

Joint captain (with Paddy Burke) Nigel Elliott and Keelan Molloy are players they’ll look to add to the scoring charts on Sunday.

There has been little between the counties when they’ve locked horns in previous seasons.

A 60th-minute goal from Davy Glennon was the turning of last year’s 2-18 to 1-15 Westmeath win when the sides met at a blustery Mullingar.

Sunday will tell a lot about the direction the Antrim 2025 model is headed.