Ryan welcomes Clare test

August 19, 2014

Antrim manager Kevin Ryan and senior Antrim captain Neil McManus celebrate at the final whistle
©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
Antrim face a difficult task against Clare in Saturday's All-Ireland U21 HC semi-final, but Kevin Ryan is calling on his players to put on a show.

The Banner County are on course for three successive All-Ireland titles at this grade and they will be red-hot favourites this weekend, having thumped the Glensmen by 2-28 to 0-12 in last year's All-Ireland U21 final.

But Ryan took the opportunity to blood some U21s at senior level this year and he hopes the Ulster champions - who stunned Wexford at the same stage last year - can give a decent account of themselves in Semple Stadium on Saturday evening:

"The days of players turning up for the odd training session and then going out to fulfil fixtures are long gone," the Waterford man says in The Belfast Telegraph. "We have some players who have come through this year but not as many as I would have liked.

"Obviously Clare are well ahead of the pack at the minute but the only way that players will improve their own game is by playing against quality teams and this match represents a chance for Antrim to put on the best show possible."

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