Antrim manager Kevin Ryan claims his side are in for "a massive hiding" in their All-Ireland Under-21 hurling semi-final with Wexford on Saturday due to to a lack of support from clubs in the county.
The Waterford native, who also manages the senior side, claims that the under 21s have only had one full training session and one challenge match since their Ulster final win on 12 July.
“Even just trying to train these under 21s for an All-Ireland semi-final, it really hits home,” Ryan told The Irish News. “There is so little interest in this game, it’s unbelievable. It’s so frustrating and annoying to be honest with you.
“There are a dozen or so of those under 21 lads who are really up for it, but to actually get them together for training has been difficult. Even to try and arrange a few matches - you can’t get teams in the county to play you. We played one game, against Portaferry, and that’s about it.
“At this stage, I understand the way Antrim is and the way the clubs are. They’re playing knock-out championship matches the following week and there’s absolutely nothing in it for them; they’re not interested in anything else, and that’s their prerogative.
“My honest feeling is we don’t deserve to be in the competition"
“But it just doesn’t add up for me. You’re playing in an All-Ireland semi-final and you need to train and prepare properly for it.
“We’re in for a massive hiding this weekend. I’ve no problem in saying that. It’s so annoying that we couldn’t get the four weeks of preparation done.
"But that’s the way it is, that’s the way the structures are, that’s the way the clubs’ attitudes are.
“Fortunately enough, we’ve got a dozen or 15 who are interested in playing with Antrim under 21s along with their clubs.”
Ryan has already announced his intention to end his term as Antrim manager at the end of this season, and Saturday looks likely to be his last game in charge, as he doesn't see a repeat of the 2013 shock victory over the Model County happening.
“People are talking about two years [ago]... even though we started from a lower point two years ago, at least we had players available and were very prepared and if the chance came they were in a position to take it.
“My honest feeling is we don’t deserve to be in the competition.
“When I look at Waterford, Tipperary, Clare and teams like that and what they’ve put into their under 21s, and then to look at how we’re treating an All-Ireland semi-final, there is something not right about.
“If I had my way I would put a massive amount into the under 21s right at the start of the year and have a serious go at it, make the fixtures around it.
"But if you asked me right now to reflect on it, there is just so little interest - bar one or two people on the board, the backroom team and those dozen players - it’s a nuisance for everyone else. It just gets in the way."
