By Michael McMullan

PORTGLENONE’S winning start to the season has generated a buzz around the club, but Niall McKeever insists there is more to come and bigger challenges ahead.

They won their opening six games in a hectic opening spell on the Antrim club scene that included six rounds of games in a calendar month.

“We had three games in seven days, you wouldn’t hear of it in too many places in professional football, never mind leagues in the GAA,” said McKeever, who spent four seasons playing for AFL side Brisbane Lions.

“It’s a great start for Portglenone and there is a nice buzz about the place,” he said.

“We are under no illusions that we have a tough round of fixtures. After Easter, we have Cargin and a lot of the teams that have been at the business end of the championship over the past number of years,” he said.

Ensuring they made the top six before the league split wasn’t the motivation for hitting the running.

“To be honest, it wasn’t. John (McKeever) came in and stressed that we were taking it game by game and he will continue with that,” Niall said about his cousin’s outlook.

“Some of the results have looked very impressive but there is much to improve on which we can take as a positive,” he stated.

Last year, Creggan took home the Paddy McNamee Cup after a novel final with Aghagallon that brought freshness to the scene.

Portglenone have yet to reach the top of the tree, with a series of final defeats to a St Gall’s team in their pomp.

BACK IN THE DAY…Niall McKeever in action during Portglenone’s 2009 defeat to St Gall’s in the Antrim SFC final

“We have been knocking on the door,” McKeever, who played in that era, said of the current crop.

“We have been to three semi-finals and have been very, very unlucky not to get to a final.

“Our team, personally I think, is at that right age. Physically, we have got to the right development age where they should be breaking the door down this year.

“We started well in the league, but that has no relevance to the championship at all.

“It is a positive sign of where the lads are at the moment and the commitment in the club.”

John McKeever has built a management team that includes his brother Adrian who coached many of the current team at underage level.

“John is the best coach in Antrim and we are very lucky to have him,” McKeever stated. “A massive shout out to Tommy Devlin. I didn’t know him until this year, him and John work really well in tandem.”

Tyrone legend Peter Canavan is also on the management ticket and although he has had limited involvement so far, McKeever is looking forward to his input when the business end of the season kicks in.

“Whether you are 17 or 37, you are going to take advice from the master, any bits of advice that come from Peter Canavan, you’d want to listen. That should bring it on to the next step.”