Antrim ace admits Tailteann Cup draw wasn't kind to them after signs of progress in Ulster Championship
The Saffrons are fresh off a positive Ulster Championship experience, when they
They insisted on playing that game at Corrigan Park in Belfast and delivered a performance to be proud of.
Throw in their Tailteann Cup semi-final appearances from 2023 and 2024 and you can see why they are being talked about as dark horses.
But experienced defender McAleese says their 17-1 odds for title success are partly because of the tough group they are in.
Antrim begin their campaign away to 2022 champions Westmeath on Sunday before ties against 2024 quarter-finalists Limerick and London.
Read More On GAA
McAleese said: 'We can't really look too far ahead, we are third seeds after all.
"We have been given a tough draw — Westmeath, London and Limerick.
'We have always had tight games against those sides so we cannot take anything for granted.
'We have got to semi-finals in the last couple of years so we can draw a lot of experience and confidence from that. But the thing is, everyone starts at zero again now.'
Most read in GAA Football
Antrim have a well-drilled, enthusiastic group under Andy McEntee, with the likes of Marc Jordan, Paddy McBride and McAleese lending vital experience.
McAleese said: 'I was only chatting to someone about it recently, we only have three or maybe four guys who are 30-plus.
Owen Mulligan teases Lee Keegan over hilarious contrast in how their inter-county GAA careers ended
'There hasn't been a whole lot of chopping and changing or lads leaving the panel so I suppose it is about nurturing that, keeping the group together and hopefully getting back to Division 3 as soon as possible.'
The 'Corrigan Park or nowhere' stand taken by the Antrim players on where the Armagh game should be played only pulled the group tighter together.
McAleese said: 'We had to go out and back it up then and deliver a performance and we did that, to a certain degree.
'Probably for us, it was about the home game but it was also about highlighting the fact that we don't have a proper county ground and haven't had a proper county ground since the absence of Casement Park.'
1
Alongside Cillian Fahy of Limerick at Tuesday's Tailteann Cup launch at Croke Park
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
41 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly steps down
Kieran Donnelly has stepped down as Fermanagh senior football manager after four years at the helm. Donnelly met with the county officers over the weekend to inform them of his decision. He lead the Erne county to the Tailteann Cup semi-final this year where they were defeated by eventual champions Kildare 1-13 to 0-9. They finished fourth in Division three of the Allianz National football league having won it in 2023 and spent a season in Division two. They were beaten by Down in the Ulster championship quarter-final before topping their Tailteann Cup group and defeating Sligon in the last eight. "It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as manager of the Fermanagh senior football team" said Donnelly. "I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to my backroom team for their dedication and professionalism throughout my tenure. The players have shown tremendous growth and development, and I am proud of the progress the squad has made during this period. "I would like to wish the players, management, and supporters of Fermanagh GAA every success in the years ahead." Fermanagh GAA thanked Donnelly for his dediction and commitment over the last four years. "Fermanagh GAA would like to sincerely thank Kieran and his entire backroom team for their dedication and commitment over the last four years. Transitioning from Covid and the new playing rules has not been an easy task. "While silverware may have eluded, Kieran brought a great culture and positive environment to the senior side. "We wish Kieran, his family and all the backroom team every success in the future."
RTÉ News
41 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Kieran Donnelly departs Fermanagh manager role after five years in charge
Fermanagh GAA have confirmed that senior inter-county football team manager Kieran Donnelly has stepped down from his role after five years in charge. According to a statement posted on Fermanagh GAA's website this morning the ex-Erne County player met with officers over the weekend to inform them of his decision. In a statement Fermanagh GAA said: "Fermanagh GAA would like to sincerely thank Kieran and his entire backroom team for their dedication and commitment over the last four years. Transitioning from Covid and the new playing rules has not been an easy task." At the start of the year Donnelly's team were fourth in Division Three of the league having previously gained promotion in 2023. Fermanagh were beaten by Down in the quarter-final of the Ulster championship and entered the Tailteann Cup and won their group before being beaten by eventual winners Kildare by seven points int he semi-final. The statement added: "While silverware may have eluded, Kieran brought a great culture and positive environment to the senior side. We wish Kieran, his family and all the backroom team every success in the future." Donnelly detailed in the statement that it was a "privilege" to serve as manager. He said: "It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as manager of the Fermanagh senior football team. I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to my backroom team for their dedication and professionalism throughout my tenure. "The players have shown tremendous growth and development, and I am proud of the progress the squad has made during this period. I would like to wish the players, management, and supporters of Fermanagh GAA every success in the years ahead."
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
On This Week: Phil Lynott immortalised just off Grafton Street
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (18th - 24th August) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 18th - 24th August. This Week In Irish News 1995: Microsoft launch Windows 95 for PCs Microsoft launched Windows 95 in Ireland, a new operating system designed to make computers easier to use for consumers. A worldwide launch saw great fanfare as the operating system improved navigation, multimedia use, and internet access. Windows 95 was manufactured in Ireland for distribution across Europe. For £70, demand for it was steady, and it sold out quickly in retailers. 2024: Carlow man crowned Supreme World Ploughing Champion Eamonn Tracey from Carlow has been crowned Supreme World Ploughing Champion at the 69th World Ploughing Contest in Tartu, Estonia's second city. It marked his third successive victory in the Conventional Class. Jer Coakley, from West Cork, also returned home with glory after storming to victory as Reversible World Ploughing Champion. This Week In Irish Sports 1984: Liverpool FC pay a visit to Dublin Liverpool football club visited Dublin to play a friendly against Home Farm, which featured players selected from the League of Ireland. Fans were out in force at Dublin Airport to greet the team, which included players like Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish, and Alan Hansen and is considered one of the club's greatest teams. Rush was awarded a Player of the Year award by the Dublin branch of the Liverpool Supporters Club. Liverpool would go on to win the match 3 - 0. 2018: Limerick hang on to end 45 years of pain Limerick won its first All-Ireland hurling title since 1973, surviving a valiant comeback from defending champions Galway to secure the title. The game exploded into life in the final 10 minutes as Galway cut a 68th-minute eight-point deficit to just one in injury time. But Limerick dug deep to win in front of a full house in Croke Park. This Week In Irish Entertainment 2003: Red Hot Chili Peppers rock Slane Two years after playing support to U2, Red Hot Chilli Peppers headlined a sold-out show at Slane Castle in Co Meath. The band promised to return at their last gig in Slane and did so in front of an 80,000 crowd. They were supported by the Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Feeder, Morcheeba, and Halite. The concert saw music fans travel from all around Ireland and abroad to enjoy the lineup. 2024: Half a million tune in to see Rose of Tralee crowned Over half a million viewers tuned in to watch New Zealand Rose Keely O'Grady crowned the 2024 International Rose of Tralee. It was the second time a rose from New Zealand won the competition; the last time was in 1988. O'Grady was studying Speech and Language Therapy at Canterbury University when she won the 64th Rose of Tralee festival. The Co Kerry festival drew a peak of 599,100 viewers on RTÉ One, while an average audience of 543,000 watched the festival. This Week In Irish Culture 2005: Phil Lynott sculpture unveiled A sculpture of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott was unveiled outside Bruxelles Bar, just off Grafton Street. Thin Lizzy was regarded as Ireland's first successful rock band, and hundreds turned up to witness the unveiling by the musician's mother, Philomena Lynott, and then-Lord Mayor Catherine Byrne. The life-size sculpture was sculpted by Paul Daly and commissioned by the Róisín Dubh trust, which was established to commemorate Lynott's life and work. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1970: 'The Wonder of You' by Elvis Presley The Ray Peterson cover became one of Elvis' most successful records in the UK ever and stayed number one in Ireland for three weeks. 1992: 'Rhythm is a Dancer' by Snap! The German Eurodance group's song was an international success, topping the charts in France, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, and the UK. 2000: Rock DJ by Robbie Williams Coming from his third studio album, Rock DJ became Robbie Williams' second number-one single in Ireland, the other being Millennium. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week Elaine Crowley (48) TV journalist, presenter and newsreader who presents Ireland AM on Virgin Media TV Kevin Long (35) Irish footballer who plays for Toronto FC and the Republic Of Ireland Michael McGrath (49) Fianna Fail politician and EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Other Irish Trivia From This Week 1986: The three-mile human chain formed on Croagh Patrick 3,000 pilgrims participated in a 'hands link' at Croagh Patrick, creating a three-mile human chain from the base to the summit. Croagh Patrick is traditionally climbed by pilgrims on Reek Sunday every year, which falls on the last Sunday in July. This was a special pilgrimage to help raise funds for the Rehabilitation Institute, which was co-organised with Co-Operation North, the 32-county organisation dedicated to creating links between people in the North and South. Looking Ahead
