Squad dedication delights Sambo

Sambo McNaughton is gearing up for a tough league campaign

Antrim hurling joint-manager Sambo McNaughton has said that the squad's dedicated approach is a key factor in the county's resurgence.

The Saffrons claimed the Walsh Cup by beating Offaly on Sunday and they are now looking forward to their Allianz NFL opener against Dublin on Sunday.

"We've asked people to have a lifestyle that lends itself to being a county hurler," McNaughton told BBC Sport.

"We believed in the players and so far we're getting a great response."

McNaughton acknowledges that "confidence is up" ahead of the league campaign, following their Walsh Cup victories over Kilkenny, UCD and Offaly.

"But we'll keep our feet on the ground. It's February so there's a long way to go yet.

"Over the three (Walsh Cup) games, the one thing that we were pleased with more than anything else was the commitment of the players for 70 minutes.

"They fought for 70 minutes from start to finish. On Sunday, we made some very silly mistakes but you are going to do that in conditions like that in February.

"It (winning the Walsh Cup) will mean a lot more to us that the likes of Kilkenny or Offaly. We have never won a competition where you beat Offaly and Kilkenny and UCD."

However, McNaughton insists that Antrim's focus for the early part of the year has "always been on the league".

"It's a very hard campaign that lies ahead of us.

"I've no doubt Kilkenny are waiting to put manners on us. We have a very young team and there are hard days ahead too.

"It might not be long until we are brought back down to earth again."