Antrim's Niall O'Connor says fixtures such as Sunday's against 2024 All-Ireland champions Clare "are the games you want" to play in.
Antrim's Niall O'Connor says fixtures such as Sunday's against 2024 All-Ireland champions Clare "are the games you want" to play in.
The Saffrons welcome the Banner County to Cushendall for the Division 1B clash [13:00 GMT, live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI website] with Davy Fitzgerald's side coming into the game off the back of a gut-wrenching defeat by Wexford in their opening fixture.
An injury-time goal from Tony Kelly, meanwhile, saw Clare snatch an opening win over Dublin.
Against the Dubs, Clare manager Brian Lohan started with 14 players who featured during his side's 2024 All-Ireland final triumph over Cork, an indication of their ambition to ensure a swift return to Division 1A following relegation last year.
The prospect of facing such a star-studded line-up in the Glens this week is not daunting according to O'Connor, who insists the motivation for Antrim is to "test yourself against the best" as they try to fulfil their own ambition of challenging for promotion.
"I certainly believe we can compete with them or anyone we come up against on our day. It's the challenge you want but we are looking at it as an opportunity to get points," O'Connor told BBC Sport NI.
"I'm glad they aren't holding anyone back. If you aren't on it on the day, you'll fairly find out about it. We have to be strong enough to compete with these boys.
"We're in 1B and want to be up in the top end, we're back in the Joe McDonagh and want to get back to the Leinster Championship. This is a team that's challenging for All-Irelands, so what else would you want?"
Last-gasp defeat in Wexford 'gutting'
O'Connor called last week's 1-13- to 1-12 loss in Wexford "gutting" as, leading by two deep into added time, the Slaneysiders were awarded a free brought all the way to the edge of the 20-metre line that goalkeeper Mark Fanning drilled high to the net.
"We thought we'd done everything right for the full game," O'Connor reflected.
"We'd worked hard, stayed in front for the most part and then they got a run towards the end. You were thinking, 'here we go again', but we got the goal and thought we were doing enough, fighting back with a good bit of character.
"With their goal at the end, frustrating is the word that comes to mind."
Positives in such a scenario can be difficult to come by, but the Naomh Eanna club-man feels the addition of younger members of the panel for 2026 have brought a "breath of fresh air".
Five years ago, O'Connor was one of the new kids on the block as he sought to break into a team which began its league campaign with a stirring 1-21 to 0-22 win over Clare in Belfast - the last meeting between the teams.
Now, as one of the established names, he has been impressed by the next wave breaking through, who have bought into manager Fitzgerald's plan and are pushing for places.
"Younger lads like Joseph McLaughlin and Jack McCloskey are flying, so the energy they bring is making it easier on us," he added.
"The group has gelled nicely. We worked on a lot with Davy last year and sometimes we were thinking about it when we needed to be doing it, but this year it's coming more naturally.
"Most of the players were on the panel last year, so it's maybe made it easier for the new panel members as they are coming in and seeing it's second nature to the rest in terms of playing style."
Category: General Sports
