In mid-October, following a seven-month lay-off, Antrim's hurlers went back about their business with gusto.
They gained promotion to Division 1 and, despite a camp severely hampered by Covid issues, they beat Westmeath seven days later in their McDonagh Cup opener.
Following that they snatched a dramatic draw in Carlow the next weekend before beating Kerry in the group stages – their third win over the Kingdom in 2020 and securing their place in the final with a win over Meath.
In Darren Gleeson’s his first year as Antrim manager, he has seen his side tackle a heavy workload with minimum fuss. His players are going from recovery to gym programmes to field sessions and while Neil McManus is still recovering and under-20 midfielder Niall McCormick, too, players like Conal Cunning and Conor Johnston are fit again in a competitive squad.
Gleeson, the former Tipperary goalkeeper, feels the required talent is in Antrim and says there is even more coming through the production lines. Behind the scenes, however, there is serious development work taking place, from Cumann na mBunscol upwards.
Sean McManus is chairperson of Cumann na mBunscol Aontrama and says the structures have been re-energised and organised over the past while.
"Sunday is the Joe McDonagh Cup final and we’d all love to be there but it’s a great privilege to be able to watch Antrim play live on RTÉ again," McManus says. "I don’t think I have been able to do that for some time.
"It’s a big day for us and if we win it will be huge. That result is all about the here and now. Down the lines, though, we are building for the future. Setting about making our national games the sport of choice in areas like Belfast and the county of Antrim. We are going into the schools offering coaching, but so too are the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Irish Football Association.
"In parts of the city and county boxing and basketball are also strong. We have our hurling strongholds with clubs as good as any in the land and we have football strongholds too. What we are trying to do with Cumann na mBunscol is make young children interested in our games and give them enjoyable structures."
Gaelic Games in Antrim needed reorganisation to reap maximum potential out of the raw ingredients that exist there.
Officials like Terry Reilly and Collie Donnelly had taken to that task with relish and now their work has been carried on by the existing executive.
A five-year, €1m Gaelfast project, led by Dr Paul Donnelly, to promote engagement levels with the GAA in the city and county at primary school level, was then introduced and is also flourishing.
The project may need at least another five-year term before full dividends are seen, but its inception and progression has been entirely positive.
"Gaelfast is what we’ve been crying out for at grassroots and primary school levels here in Antrim," McManus says.
"You could straight away see that the people in charge meant business and were well received by everyone. The first task they had was to have consultation with all major stakeholders, parents, schools, and those not affiliated with Gaelic Games.
"They tapped into that. And into the divisional boards. They are very highly qualified people who know what they are at. I think they have helped us all re-engage with the GAA in this county, they have shown greater involvement and have been a breath of fresh air. As a result, I think the scene here has new energy and new life.
"North Antrim would have been flying it in terms of hurling and camogie but there are other areas in need of development, things needed to be better synchronised and better organised and they are working their socks off to help the handful of committed volunteers and recruit new blood.
"No matter what happens on Sunday we know the work that is going on behind the scenes. Gaelfast will bring change but it won’t be fast or immediate. It’s going to take a while. The first thing they are trying to achieve is that we have access to our kids and get as many people as possible playing GAA."
McManus also highlights the appointment of Gleeson as a significant step in Antrim’s rejuvenation.
"Darren has been there and worn the t-shirt. He knows what he’s at and the lads say the set-up is great. I know from seeing lads play at underage and schools’ level that we can hold our own if we get back to the top level.
"The McDonagh Cup final is all that is on the minds right now but down the line, if and whenever it happens, it will be a case of hang in there and try to survive until we get used to that high-octane pace of top-flight hurling.
"But the people are there, the players with the stick work are there and the passion is there, and we are seeing that all the way down the line again.
"Like I say you have your strongholds. Southwest Antrim is huge for football and bordering Derry where a lot of our lads go to school, play colleges football and win Ulster or Hogan Cup medals.
"North Antrim has big clubs as good at hurling as any in Ireland.
"Belfast can be difficult and challenging, it can be a harder sell, but we are working hard on that to make national games the sport of choice there.
"A win on Sunday will help the profile and visibility. But the work will continue no matter what."
Watch the All-Ireland senior hurling final between Limerick and Waterford and the Joe McDonagh Cup final between Antrim and Kerry live on RTÉ2 from 12.30pm Sunday, listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 or follow our live blog on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app. Highlights on The Sunday Game (9.30pm RTÉ2).
