ANTRIM are approaching this weekend’s game against Dublin eager to bounce back after defeat to Kilkenny.

The Saffrons lost to the Cats last weekend, a result many would have expected. Yet their performance was unlike many Antrim performances in Division One of years gone by. During periods of the game they dropped behind but were always able to get scores on the board and get back into the game.

After beating Clare the previous week, they have proven that they are a team full of belief. That belief carries into this weekend, and Antrim defender James McNaughton says that the team believe they can get a result against the Dubs.

“We know Parnell Park is a difficult place to go. We know Dublin are usually very good in Parnell Park. We are going down to give arattle and we believe that we can get a win.

“It’s the biggest game of the year so far, as we want to get back on track after defeat at the weekend.

“We were disappointed with the way we performed. Not many people will see that because we were beaten by seven points. It is not often that you get an Antrim team goes down to Nowlan Park, gets beat by seven points and is disappointed.”

The attitude of the Antrim players is notable. They are not pleased by just performing, and their analysis of their game suggests that they know they have the talent to not only compete, but to beat the teams in the top tier.

“We didn’t match the level of Kilkenny in the first half. We didn’t bring the intensity that we brought against Clare the week before. We were disappointed with how we performed in the first half, leaving that eight-point deficit. But we came out in the second half and showed character. We got it back to level, but they pushed on again.”

McNaughton said that Antrim hit a lull in the first half, missing a few chances but he wasn’t sure why they didn’t reach the correct intensity in that period. However, McNaughton said that they have learned lessons from the first two games.

“As a whole group we have a collective belief that we belong in Division One. We beat Clare, we put it up to Kilkenny for spells. We think we can push on and be an established division one team. We are not there for the craic of it. We have earned our place.”

The approach for the Dublin is one of getting back to the levels they played against Clare.

McNaughton said: “We will worry about our own game. We will bring our game to it and see if Dublin can match us for intensity. We will go down and give them a rattle, and see if they can handle us.

“We know we have the talent in the panel, it is just about meeting the work-rate and the desire and the intensity of the so-called top counties. If we can go out and do that, and have the hunger to win the ball then we have the boys in the front eight who will finish the job.

“We have lads who can come off the bench too to finish the job. The work rate and desire has to be there.”