Neil McManus says it’s imperative that Antrim stay in Division 1B and has identified the Saffrons’ remaining ties against Dublin and Down as their biggest fixtures in years.
The former Antrim forward conceded that he isn’t expecting Davy Fitzgerald’s side to beat Dublin at Corrigan Park in Belfast this Sunday.
But he is anticipating a big performance after finally getting off the mark in the group by beating Carlow last weekend.
Antrim are still locked in a relegation battle but if they can beat neighbours Down in the final round, leaving them on four points, that could be enough to avoid dropping to Division 2.
“I don’t think there’s anything more important at the minute for Antrim GAA than Antrim to stay up,” said McManus. “It’s a big task, obviously, given that we have Dublin at home and then Down away.
“The Down game is especially massive and results could still be very unkind. You could end up with two wins in the League and still find yourself going down on score difference if other results were to go in an unfortunate way.
“All you can do is perform really well in Corrigan this weekend and try to bring that form on the road with you to Down in the last game.
“So there could be nothing more important than that. Staying in Division 1B is just sacrosanct for Antrim’s senior hurling team because if we were to be relegated, in terms of trying to get players into the panel, driving the standards, well, it becomes a less attractive option immediately.
“So it’s huge that we stay in Division 1B, massive. These few games are some of the biggest games we’ve had for a long time.”
McManus’ life story and Antrim career will be the subject of a Laochra Gael episode on TG4 this evening evening (9.30pm).
How Fitzgerald would like to have a player like the Cushendall man in his attack right now.
McManus, who retired after the 2023 season, recalled playing in a powerful attack that contained Conor McCann and Niall McKenna.
Now, he noted, they’re working off a smaller and lighter set of forwards, whom he reckons are more skilful and suited to the summer.
“I don’t think we’ll see the best of this Antrim team until we get into the Joe McDonagh, when we’re on the drier sod,” he said.
“You think of the pace of the likes of Keelan Molloy, Seaan Elliot, James McNaughton, Conal Cunning, Conor Johnston, they can destroy you with the sort of pace we didn’t have.
“So Davy has had to play a little bit differently; dropping deeper, trying to run the ball out and mistakes cost you dearly when you’re playing that way.”
McManus was Antrim’s top scorer back in 2010 when they beat an Anthony Daly managed Dublin at Croke Park in the Championship.
It’s a level McManus believes the Saffrons can aspire to again, even if Dublin did go on to win Leinster and National League titles, as well as qualify for an All-Ireland semi-final in 2025.
“We drew with Dublin in the Leinster championship three years ago,” noted McManus. “That’s not a long time ago. I don’t think Davy has that same level of depth available to him at the minute and I think Dublin have progressed as well in those three seasons.
“But as a county, to aspire to be at the level that Dublin are at, that is not an unrealistic aim in any way, shape or form.”
