All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals: Ian O'Riordan hears about the faith that sustains the coach on his 200-mile trek north to training sessions. By lunchtime yesterday, Dinny Cahill was already leaving his home in Tipperary, setting out on the 200-mile drive north to Antrim.

After another training session with the county's hurlers he'd head back. Few people in Ireland could know that route better by now.

This is the second summer the former Tipperary hurler has been making the trip on more than a weekly basis. The novelty might have worn off but the belief in the cause remains. Antrim hurling does have a future, and Cahill continues to fast-track it.

So to Sunday's double-bill in Croke Park - and the annual benchmark of Ulster hurling. An All-Ireland quarter-final, this time against Wexford, remains the reward for the team that rules in Ulster. And since Cahill took over last year, Antrim's rule has rarely been as dominant.

Considering progression in Ulster hurling is normally made in inches, Cahill can take much of the credit for taking Antrim forward several feet. In the corresponding game a year ago they truly tested Tipperary, leading 2-6 to 0-10 at half-time before eventually succumbing to the greater depth of the then All-Ireland champions.

"After the way this team performed last year they all feel they can go a step further this time," says Cahill, "and have another really good crack at it. I certainly feel the team has really knuckled down now.

"I just don't know if we're capable of winning, but we're playing to win from the start. I suppose a lot will depend on how Wexford come out after last weekend, because they had a very tough game against Waterford.

"And I know Wexford have a great blend of youth and experience. But experience is one thing, hunger is something else. So if you are talking about players that are hungry I think Antrim have the edge because they've been starved of success for so long."

Clearly, then, success in Ulster is one thing, but step outside and it's something completely different. Antrim haven't won a championship match outside the province since they stunned Offaly with four goals in the All-Ireland semi-final of 1989, and crossing the great divide is still the rare exception.

Matters aren't helped much when the Ulster champions are left out in the cold since their provincial final, which this year saw Antrim get past Derry. So for over five weeks now Antrim's most testing preparations have been limited to challenge games.

"The team were down south twice," adds Cahill, "and played Galway and Tipperary in challenge games. It was important to get an idea of how the team were going, and I think we performed quite well in those games. There have also been some club championship games going on in Ulster too and that has helped get players ready.

"We were actually missing five of our players for the Galway game and still performed well. And we were missing a few for the Tipperary game as well, so we haven't really had the chance to play as a full team. But I still thought they were two good work-outs.

"Until Sunday night we didn't know who were playing and that was a bit of a problem too. But I was down looking at the Wexford game anyway and played the video a few times since and, hopefully, we can capitalise on any of the weaknesses that Wexford have."

Interestingly, Cahill used exactly the same team in the Ulster final win over Derry as played against Tipperary a year ago: "That is true, but that was a very young team last year. So they have that bit more experience under their belt now. But we do have a good strong panel. And we definitely have another five players that will probably come in at some point on Sunday. I certainly see it as a 20-man game these days."

Helping to strengthen the panel are the players drafted in from the Dunloy Cuchullains, who reached the All-Ireland final earlier this year after a shock win over Waterford's Mount Sion in the semi-final. Already team captain Colm McGuckian, midfielder Conor Cunning, and forwards Liam Richmond, Paddy Richmond and Greg O'Kane also wear the Dunloy colours.

Not that Cahill's enthusiasm needed any fresh injection. "Oh God no," he says. "Hurling is still the only thing for me. The same way football is for Mick O'Dwyer. So I'm still as enthusiastic as ever about it. The miles keep clocking up alright but the hurling is all that matters to me."

Cahill has strong views on how the future of hurling should be mapped out. The Hurling Development Committee are revising the various championship formats, but Cahill wouldn't single out Ulster for any special treatment - similar to what Galway now enjoy. The changes must run deeper.

"I think it's all the weaker counties that need the attention. You can't just pick good hurlers off the shelf at age 19 or 20 and say they'll make inter-county players. I feel the work has to be done right down to the eight- and nine-year-olds, to get them playing hurling and developing their skills at an early age. It can become a natural progression from there on, so I think that's where the GAA need to put more effort.

"There's no point in drawing up another fixture list and saying it will help with hurling in places like Leitrim and Mayo and Roscommon. If it's not being played at underage level and being played well at that level, there's no way those counties are going to play it well at senior level.

"So the work has to start in schools and in clubs. And if that means the GAA need to bring players into those places to help with the work then I think it would be a great investment."

SATURDAY

All-Ireland SFC qualifier series, fourth round: Down v Donegal, Clones, 4.15, G Kinneavy (Roscommon); Kildare v Roscommon, 6.15, Portlaoise, M Collins (Cork). Extra-time in both games if necessary.

All-Ireland MHC quarter-final: Cork v Offaly, Thurles, 7.0, S Roche (Tipperary).

All-Ireland Hurling Under-16 B final: Meath v Antrim, Dundalk, 3.30, J Sheridan (Kildare).

SUNDAY

All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals: Wexford v Antrim, Croke Park, 2.15, P Horan (Offaly); Tipperary v Offaly, Croke Park, 4.0, G Harrington (Cork).

All-Ireland MHC quarter-final: Galway v Antrim, Croke Park, 12.45, F Smith (Meath).