Paddy Cunningham

By Francis McNally

SHARPSHOOTER Paddy Cunningham is the epitome of Liam Bradley’s new look Antrim – dedicated, focused, ambitious.

However, while Antrim fans are hoping for another summer of success, the Saffrons captain has his mind fixed firmly on the Championship opener against Tyrone.

Q How is the mood in the Antrim camp at the minute?

It’s been good, positive, we are focused now on training. Obviously we have had a few setbacks with the league final defeat, but the main thing was getting promoted.

It was disappointing to lose a league final, but we have have already moved on.

The training level and intensity has increased and we are focused on the next three weeks and the Championship which is what it’s all about. People are now fighting for their places and training really hard.

Q Antrim have exceeded expectations over this last 18 months, is the belief and mentality there to beat Tyrone? 

Yes, there would be no point to the hard training we’ve been putting ourselves through if we thought we couldn’t beat them.

We got to an Ulster final last year and ran Kerry very close. Tyrone are a quality side with a team of stars and individuals that will need to be tightly marked. 

We drove them very close last year in a game in which we started slowly. We are under no illusions that this will be a tough game, we gave them too much respect last year.  

This year hopefully we can get ourselves right and hit form on the day, so we’ll wait and see.

Q Championship Sunday-will playing at Casement be a big advantage for you? 

Of course it will. Having that home support makes a huge difference.

Having played there so often we all know the ground so well. We’re all used to playing there now. We will still be up against it, Tyrone have some fantastic players.

Q You’ve been in the panel a few years now, has much has changed in recent times?

Things have become far more professional.  Years ago we didn’t take it seriously enough. We didn’t understand how important training on our own time was and we paid the price for that. Now we have our own training programmes and train in our own time and that makes a big difference, we take it a lot more seriously now. High standards are expected. Training away from the County team and working on our own shows the commitment we now have, hopefully that commitment will be rewarded.

Q Antrim’s fitness, tactics and discipline have all improved dramatically- how will Antrim take it to the next level in the Championship?

We have three weeks of hard work left and we will work harder than ever, we face a major obstacle in Tyrone and we are not thinking past that.

Our management team have worked hard and are credited for bringing a new professionalism to the team. The whole backroom team is an excellent set up now and the players have a different mindset and the self belief.

Q Will having the St Galls players back make a big difference?

Without a shadow of a doubt. There are nine players in the Antrim squad and three or four will be in the starting line up.  It can only be helpful in team selection and there is obviously more competition for places. These guys have played on the big days, and more important they have brought success and are used to success and this is something they can bring to the team, a winning mentality.

Q Will Michael McCann be playing up front with you?

He has played midfield all season so I can’t see that changing. Competition for places on the forward line is intense – it’s really up to Liam Bradley

Q Will you beat Tyrone?

Hopefully!