The stand-off which dominated the build up to Antrim’s Ulster SFC clash with Armagh highlighted the need for Casement Park’s overdue redevelopment to be completed according to Paddy McBride.
The Saffrons attacker turned in a Man-of-the-Match against the Orchard County with his native St John’s hosting the game at Corrigan Park after Antrim threatened to boycott the game if it was played in Newry’s Páirc Esler.
With capacity capped at 4,000, several thousand fans missed out on the opportunity to witness the All-Ireland champions playing in Belfast.
Despite McBride’s 0-9 haul, the Saffrons lost out by 11 points. However, the game has reinvigorated Antrim Gaels in their pursuit of a fitting home stadium with thousands taking to the streets of West Belfast ahead of the game to demand urgent action on the stalled redevelopment.
“Playing the All-Ireland champions at home shouldn’t be the stuff of dreams, it should be a regular thing and it shows the need for Casement Park,” said McBride.
“We wouldn’t have had to go through all that. The fact that we were able to host the game at Corrigan Park is brilliant. There will be a positive from this - I haven’t seen as many Antrim jerseys about Belfast in a long time.
“There was a lot of hype and media around the game and I’m hoping there is a lift from it, especially for the kids. Hopefully, they will grow up wanting to play for Antrim. How many of those kids would have been in Páirc Esler?
“We need to keep making sure that, if we get a home draw, it is in Belfast. We need to keep that pressure and momentum to get Casement built.”
Antrim were relegated to Division Four last month, but turned in, arguably, their best performance of Andy McEntee’s three-year tenure against the All-Ireland champions.
They led Kieran McGeeney’s side at half-time and were still in the game midway through the second half before the Orchard County powered clear in the final quarter.
That display ought to give Antrim momentum heading into their forthcoming Tailteann Cup campaign.
The Saffrons have reached the last four of the competition in each of the last two season, but McBride insisted they’ll need to improve again.
“We’re delighted with showing that we're capable of playing a certain standard, but not delighted with not playing like that over 70 minutes,” reflected McBride.
“If we want to put it together for 70 minutes, you can't be playing in Division Four against a team that's playing in Division One against Kerry, Mayo and Dublin.
“Going down to Division Four needs rectified. That’s the only way we are going to start competing against these team and, hopefully, win one of these Ulster games.
“That needs to be the aim next year. Obviously, we have the Tailteann Cup to focus on first.
“We’ve lost the last two semi-finals in Croke Park . . . it is hard to get there. There are teams from Division Three playing in the Tailteann Cup that will be tough to beat.
“We can’t be thinking because we played well against Armagh, we can beat anybody in the Tailteann Cup.
“We have to put our heads down and work hard. Hard work will win the Tailteann Cup and we have to do more than we’ve ever done. We’ve been at the semi-finals twice so we can’t do the same and expect a different result - we have to do more.”
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