Antrim hurling boss Darren Gleeson knows that relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup would be a huge setback for the county, but insists Westmeath’s stunning victory over Wexford hasn’t altered their preparation for Sunday’s must-win clash in Cusack Park.
A win for Antrim coupled with a defeat for Wexford against Kilkenny would see the Model County relegated on the head-to-head rule against Westmeath.
The Saffrons need a win to save their own skin while Westmeath will go down if Wexford gain a win or a draw at home to the Cats and Joe Fortune’s men lose to Antrim.
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“No matter what the format is, you are always trying to win every game you play. The pressure it brings now is not ideal,” stated Gleeson.
“Whether Westmeath won last week or not, our fate is in our own hands. That hasn’t changed.
"What’s unusual is that Wexford have been brought into the scenario because of last week’s result. Nobody envisaged a three-team shootout at the end of it.”
“No matter what tier you are in, nobody wants to drop to the tier below. You are always trying to further yourself.
“Going back to the Joe McDonagh wouldn’t be ideal, but if that’s what it comes to, that’s where you deserve to be.
“You aren’t put down there because you don’t deserve to be there. You have to get the results.”
The fact that two Leinster sides, Carlow and Offaly, are contesting the Joe McDonagh Cup final, means that one team will be relegated from the Leinster SHC group this weekend.
Had Kerry won the McDonagh Cup, they would have contested a play-off against the team finishing bottom in the Munster group, which will be Waterford this season.
The inequality between the Leinster and Munster groups has been keenly debated and Gleeson feels the relegation threat needs to be the same in each group
“Not everyone agrees with the format,” said the Antrim boss.
“It is very negative for a team to have one positive year and are trying to string together a second one and they don’t get a result in a one-off game - they are back down to start the journey again.
“Something might have to be looked at. Everybody is in the same competition trying to play Liam MacCarthy hurling and you’ve one rule on one side of the competition and another rule at the other.
“That’s the same for all the teams in Leinster, not just for Antrim.”
Westmeath boss Fortune has made two changes from last Sunday’s epic 4-18 to 2-22 win at Wexford Park with Cormac Boyle and Derek McNicholas coming in for Shane McGovern and Eoin Keyes.
Two-goal hero Niall Mitchell has to be content with a place among the substitutes once again.
Gleeson, meanwhile, has included Gerard Walsh in his starting team despite the Rossa clubman picking up a knee injury in last Sunday’s defeat to Galway in Pearse Stadium.
Captain Eoghan Campbell also returns the defence while Neil McManus is included among the subs.
Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Darragh Egerton, Conor Shaw, Johnny Bermingham; Tommy Doyle, Aaron Craig, Robbie Greville; Cormac Boyle, Charlie McCormack; Davy Glennon, Derek McNicholas, Niall O'Brien; Owen McCabe, Joseph Boyle, Ciaran Doyle.
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Paddy Burke, Ryan McGarry, Niall O'Connor; Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; James McNaughton, Michael Bradley; Keelan Molloy, Conor Johnston, Eoin O'Neill; Conal Cunning, Niall McKenna, Seaan Elliott.
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