Antrim and Sligo have been on similar trajectories over the last few seasons. Both have achieved successive promotions and both fell to Kerry in last year's All Ireland qualifier series. Both will be eyeing up their respective provincial championships and each will want to use this Saturday's Divisional Final as an opportunity to get ready for the summer.
Last year Sligo won the Division 4 final, by 2 points. That one win over Antrim was bookended by two Saffron victories in the round robin league series in 2009 and 2010 - arguably the more important fixtures. This season's league final takes on more significance in part because both teams have moved up a Division and partly due to the venue. It is not often that Antrim, or indeed Sligo, feature at headquarters and the players and supporters alike will relish the occassion.
For my money, Antrim have made more progress than the Yeatsmen in recent years, and the manner in which we secured promotion was blotted only by a 1 point defeat to Offaly (the last fixture not to feature the St Galls men) and a 2 point reversal to Wexford when promotion was already secured. Those two defeats came at either end of a imperssive and crushing home win over Louth. Truth is if we don't take the league title on Saturday night we will actually have lost three from the last four competitive matches. For that reason alone, and because winning is a positive habit, it is important to beat Sligo on Saturday.
With Michael Magill back and an almost full squad to choose from (only Kevin Niblock is ruled out) Antrim should prove too strong. Michael and Thomas McCann, along with James Loughrey should enjoy the wide open spaces of Croke Park and will hopefully run at the Sligo defence from early on.
Silverware would be a just reward for the work the squad has put in, a Croke Park victory over Div 2 opposition would be a notable step forward for our county.
We travel with hope, and with justifiable optimism.
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