Antrim's new found steel and never-say-die attitude has come as a huge source of encouragement to Ciaran Herron.

Since losing to Offaly in the Leinster SHC in heartbreaking circumstances, the Saffrons have recovered from big deficits to beat both Carlow and Dublin, and certainly aren't lacking in confidence going into today's All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork.

"We were six points down against Carlow and nine down against Dublin, but we came through in the end. We never gave up," the Kevin Lynch's clubman said.

"Most of the faces are the same, although a few younger boys have come through. I think it's three or four years of getting better. A few years ago, if we were six points down against Dublin at Croke Park, we might have folder, but this year we all just stuck at it."

While expecting a backlash from Cork following their Munster final replay loss to Waterford last weekend, Herron isn't without hope.

"After losing to Waterford in the Munster final, they'll definitely be expected to beat us," he said.

"Nobody gave us much chance to beat Dublin and we turned them over. This weekend people won't give us much of a shout to beat Cork, but we'll just worry about our own game and give it our best shot." Tweet

Most Read Stories