.jpg&w=800)
While the match at the weekend was disappointing for our U-21 hurling stars, they remain just that, stars of the present and the future.
The Clare team which won out was truly exceptional and I suspect would be a match for most senior inter-county teams in Ireland. It is amazing what six or seven years of preparation can do for a county!!
What we all saw in our Antrim heroes was the talent and ability that can and must be nurtured. We need to continue on the good development work that is being done and realise the importance of the U-21 grade. Clare did not come within a score of winning the All Ireland Senior title last Sunday by accident. It was carefully planned for years with the U-21 championship being an important part of the planning.
Over the next few weeks we must concentrate in successfully concluding our county championships and then getting a robust plan in place for the future of our games. The planning day which had to be postponed at the end of August will happen shortly and is now more important than ever. Our young hurlers took us to an U-21 All Ireland Final and can take us further with the right support from everyone in the county. Indeed, there is no reason why that cannot be replicated in football and across all of our games.
So I call on all Antrim Gaels to really get behind our county at this time. Join me and hundreds of others who have already signed up for One Antrim at www.oneantrim.com. When we consider just how much these young men achieved with very limited preparation.
Just think what we can do as a county when we really pull together and give the teams the sort of support that is common in Clare, Kilkenny and Dublin.
Together we can do it - Is Feidir Linn
Colm McKenna
Chairman
Club Aontroma