Antrim Restore pride to Ulster:

After three god awful football games in the Ulster championship, the province's dominant County in the history of the GAA, took to the field today in the Leinster hurling championship.

They had no chance of winning. indeed, they have sunk so low that we did not even travel to see them, birthday commitments on my part not withstanding.

But in a thrilling display Antrim rose to the occasion and brought Ulster to the forefront of Gaelic games again, and nearly produced the greatest result in either code for Ulster in 21 years.

I know some will point to teams beating Kerry at football, but Cork do that on a regular basis in the football championship.

Ulster sides do NOT beat Leinster teams on a regular basis in the Leinster championship, at hurling.

Dinny must now rank as the greatest manager of all time, having rattled Tipp in 20o2, and should have beaten Wexford in 2003 as well.

And then today.

Antrim stand proud, and after a terrible few years for Ulster on the football field, all Ulster people can now hold up their heads with pride when the GAA is discussed.

Close but no cigar indeed, but pride has been restored to the province.

Sorry Patrique - I was at that game yesterday and have to say I'd be sick as a small hospital if I was a Saffron. Halfway through the second half Antrim were 4/5 points and a man up and were on top all over the park. Offaly were disjointed and out of it. Hard to pinpoint what went wrong for Antrim after but it certainly wasn't an unbelievable comeback by the Faithful. The half back line started messing instead of driving the ball clear - result a couple of turnovers/easy frees giving Offaly a lifeline. They also stopped letting the ball in long to the forwards or when they did the quality was poor.

Why did they stop doing the things that put them in a commanding position? Why not play the extra man up front - especially when you are 5 points up?

This was not a moral victory for Antrim. If ever there was a case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory this was it.

We not what went wong, it was the same in 2003 against Wexford.

A fear of winning. Unable to cope with the thought that they would win. In 2003 they must have conceded 4 21 yard frees in the lkast 7 minutes before Codd finally scored from one.

And until you develop a habit of winning, which for Antrim hurlers is unlikely given the odds against them, it will always be the same.

Possibly could have done with "Winker" maybe near the end to knock over a few, but then he was indisposed.

If you think Kevin McGourty is bad news, you don't know Winker.

Pat, seen the highlights of the match last night, jesus you must be as sick as 10 hospitals man! Fully deserved to win the match in normal time with just fitness beating you in the end. Dinny sure is some boy for you lot eh? You can concentrate on the only true Provincial Hurling Championship now and London in the final!!! Hopefully!!