By Rory Houston - @RTESundayGame
Wexford manager Colm Bonnar believes his team are fully focused on beating Antrim in this weekend’s Leinster Hurling Championship meeting in Wexford Park.
The Slaneysiders will be favourites to progress against Dinny Cahill's side, but Bonnar has warned his team that the Saffrons will be keen to build on their first ever success in the province against Laois earlier this month.
Bonnar said: 'It’s a big challenge for us. It’s our first game in the Championship in 2011 and Antrim have been out already with a win against Laois.
'They are well used to travelling down to Leinster and into the lion's den, so they will be prepared and I think it will be a tight game.
'They put together a great score of 1-21 and they had another goal disallowed in the first half and played the whole second half with 14 men.
'That was their first sort of start off win in Leinster so they’ll have no fear against us. We know the task ahead and we’re really focused on it.'
Wexford’s late surge in this year’s Allianz League campaign made sure that spirits are high in the camp after some notable results against Cork and Tipperary.
Bonnar believes his team will have to raise their game even further against the Saffrons if they are to advance.
'It was great to stay up in the league. As good as it was to stay up we need to show that form for the summer. Antrim probably have a better record than us in the Championship in the last year or two.
'We know what we’re up against and it’s a case of we’re totally clued in on this game. It is good knowing we have been tested by the best teams in Division 1, but we will have to take it up several notches to compete with Antrim in a Championship game.'
