McEntee happy after Saffrons ease past Leitrim
Antrim manager Andy McEntee cut a much happier figure on Saturday afternoon than six days previously as he watched his team get back to winning ways in Allianz Football League Division Three with their 14-point win over Leitrim.First-half goals from Marc Jordan, Niall Burns, Dominic McEnhill and Fionn Nagle had Antrim in total control by the midway point and they were able to manage the game out in the second period.Following a pair of defeats on the road, including last week's 16-point reverse away to Offaly in Tullamore when they finished with 13 men, bouncing back was the objective on Saturday and they accomplished that mission."But for eight wides in the first half, we could have been further ahead although it was probably over as a contest [at half-time]. It's tough for Leitrim as they are struggling without a lot of key men, but for us it was just important to get the win," said McEntee."We certainly seemed to have a lot more energy about us than last weekend, but relief is the most overwhelming feeling at the moment so it's nice to win."Corrigan Park has been a happy venue for Antrim in the league following their wins over Clare and Leitrim which is another reason they are adamant that the Ulster SFC quarter-final against Armagh will take place there on 12 April.At a meeting with the Ulster Council's competitions control committee on Tuesday, Antrim nominated the west Belfast ground as their home venue for the clash with the All-Ireland champions, in keeping with the stance taken by the squad to resist any attempt to take home advantage from them.However, McEntee insists April is a long way away and a trip to Laois next weekend is all that is occupying his thoughts."If you were looking at it last weekend, you wouldn't have said that [it galvanised us]," he said of their stance."The truth of the matter is that it's our job to play and the players have made their stance clear. Nothing has changed, so we don't want it to become a distraction. Our job is to play and all we are concerned about is Portlaoise next week."
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