Former Antrim star Neil McManus reflected on a "heartwarming" performance that saw the Saffrons edge Wexford in a thrilling Leinster SHC round-robin clash at Corrigan Park.
The Ulster side had two points to spare in Saturday's encounter. Niall McKenna and Sean Elliott bagged two goals in the space of three minutes to edge them ahead as the clock ticked towards 70 minutes.
They then held their nerve in stoppage time with Gerard Walsh, a colossus all afternoon on his first start of the year due to injury, converting a glorious sideline and Conal Cunning sealing it.
Speaking on The Sunday Game, McManus, who wore the Saffron jersey for 17 years, hailed the importance of that win over the Slaneysiders.
"This was massive for Antrim as a whole, he said.
"For this group of players, this is my first year not involved with them, they have put in so much effort over the last four or five years to bring Antrim from Division 2A into Division 1 of the league and then into the Leinster Championship.
"They are now there on merit and their performance was heartwarming. The support that was there were enthralled by what they've seen. There was desire, tenacity and no lack of skill from hurlers who put it all on the line. They had a few decisions that went against them but they kept coming back and that's what was so impressive. Darren Gleeson is so proud of that group and everybody in Antrim is so proud of them. They were full value for that victory."
Fellow analyst Shane Dowling felt Darren Gleeson's side were full value for their victory.
"Darren Gleeson is seven years involved now, four years as manager. Looking back at the results over the last couple of months, the first league game against Limerick in Thurles was one they were never going to win. They had Dublin in Corrigan Park a week later and probably should have won that game only for a mistake from the goalkeeper.
"Last week against Kilkenny there was four Dunloy guys returning and James McNaughton had his first game back. It was as if we'll go down to Kilkenny, get players back on the pitch and then target the Wexford game. In the last couple of years it was a case of 'fair play to Antrim' and 'we ran them close but just came up short'.
"They got the win their deserved."
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