ANTRIM manager Dominic McKinley knows that the prospects for his side in Sunday's All Ireland hurling semi final against Limerick are not bright.

Antrim have a record of defeat at this stage, the exception of course being that memorable occasion in 1989 when Jim Nelson's side shocked Offaly.

McKinley played at centre halfback in that Antrim side. "Belief in ourselves brought about that" result," he recalls. "We knew we had the players in fact Antrim had teams in the 1980s that were capable of winning an All Ireland."

The Loughgiel man was proud of his involvement in the 1989 All Ireland final against Tipperary. He had been even prouder seven years earlier when leading his club, Loughgiel to victory in the All Ireland club final against St Rynagh's of Offaly.

"If you were to ask any member of our team about Sunday's match, they would not he talking about going close, they would be talking about winning," says McKinley. "I will be hoping dearly that they have the feeling inside themselves to do well," says the inveterate believer in the cause of Antrim hurling.

"The atmosphere has picked up in hard training over the past three weeks," he says. "The upset of not being able to train properly because of the unrest in the province during the run in to the Ulster final this year is now forgotten. It had been a terrible time for us trying to get together. We trained at separate grounds in north Antrim and in Belfast. This was off putting to say the least."

McKinley continues "None of the players in the squad regard going down to Croke Park on Sunday as a day out. We can only hope that the determined approach seen in training this week will transfer itself on to the pitch on the day."

The Antrim manager has great respect for Limerick players such as wing back Mark Foley, and midfielders Mike Houlihan and Sean O'Neill.

"The O'Neill boy is a tough cookie now and the midfield pair are very direct," he says.

McKinley is certain that what he saw as the SO to 60 per cent shortfall in Antrim's performance in the low key Ulster final this year can be redressed. "I can see lit already. There has been a great improvement in morale and dedication. We are an uplifted side from the one that figured in this year's Ulster final."

When asked what he truly fears about Sunday's match, McKinley says "dropping our heads'. "But," he adds, "we have worked hard on the psychological aspects of the match in training and are intent, to a man, that this will not happen."

McKinley cannot say, however, that there was no such problem when Antrim last met Limerick at the same stage two years ago. He was full back that day. "After 15 to 20 minutes I realised that our heads had dropped and in a 70 minute match that was a sore thing to have to cope with," he says.

Some of the players who played that day constitute the backbone of the current side, players like Terence (Sambo) McNaughton, and midfielders Jimmy Connolly and Paul McKillen.

McKinley has full faith in his players as "quality hurlers" and reckons that full back Eoin McColgan could command a place on any county team.

How does he explain Loughgiel winning an All Ireland club hurling title and Dunloy reaching the past two club finals, and yet Antrim remaining, comparatively, in the inter county doldrums?

"The division between club and county hurling is considerable. It doesn't help us to be restricted to a few clubs from which to pick our county team.

Reverting to consideration of Sunday's game, he says. "Limerick are a high profile team hungrier than ever to succeed. But deep down we feel that individually we have players every bit as good, and better."

The lack of media attention for McKinley's charges is something that he exploits to generate a keener attitude among his players.

"I use the media to put fire into the bellies. I keep telling the players look, the sports programmes on television don't even think you are worthy of a mention. Are you capable of showing them you are worthy or are they simply right to ignore us?."