By Seamas McAleenan
Down and Antrim are set to meet twice over the next six weeks: this Friday in the Armagh City Hotel Ulster senior final and on 20 June in the last round of group games in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Championship. Indeed, they could meet again in July, or even August in Croke Park during the latter stages of the All-Ireland.
It would be a surprise if Antrim are not favourites for all those encounters, even though the two teams have, to date, identical records for the season. Both won just one game in their respective league campaigns on the same weekend back in February, and both victories were shock results that ultimately couldn’t prevent either team from being relegated to a lower division next season.
Both Antrim and Down won their Ulster semi-finals on the last weekend of April, as expected against teams from two divisions below them. Antrim’s league victory came in Division 1A in Cork against last August’s All-Ireland senior finalists, and they competed well in the other games in that division. By contrast, Down were in Division 1B and couldn’t build on their win over Dublin at Fontenoy Park. While they were competitive in the opening game against Limerick in Cappamore and against Wexford in the final league outing, they struggled against Offaly and Clare.
Free takers have been crucial to both teams this season. Nicole McAtamney’s accuracy has been a key element for Antrim, while Aimee McAleenan consistently hit seven or eight points in each league outing. McAleenan didn’t feature against Armagh in the recent provincial semi-final, so scoring responsibility shifted to others in the attack. Niamh McGrath took over frees, though there were few opportunities, while Gerra McGrattan contributed 1-4 from play and Dearbhla Coleman added three points. More established players, Beth Fitzpatrick and Dearbhla Magee, chipped in from half-back with a couple of long-range points.
Antrim manager Elaine Dowds made a few changes in their semi-final win over Derry: Becky Ellis replaced Catriona Graham in goals, and Caoimhe McNaughton and Caoimhe Conlon earned their first starts of the season in the full-back line. Both outfield players are experienced and returning from injury, and getting a full game under their belts will give Dowds more options for the final, particularly with several senior players also involved in an All-Ireland U-23 semi-final against Limerick on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Down manager Domhnall Nugent knows that beating Division Three champions Armagh by ten points will be a very different challenge against an Antrim team with top-level camogie experience. The Saffrons are aiming to collect a third successive provincial title, something they haven’t achieved in nearly 50 years. Down last held the crown in 2023, when they entered the final at Rossa Park Belfast as underdogs and won 0-15 to 0-9. That was their last final, having been beaten at the semi-final stage in the previous two seasons. Only five of the 2023 team started the recent semi-final.
Nine of the Antrim team that won the All-Ireland Intermediate final five years ago started in their 2-13 to 1-3 semi-final win over Derry, with teenage newcomer Éobha McAllister the standout performer, scoring a goal and five points. Antrim are clear favourites, but they will certainly be wary of the threat Down pose.
