Dunloy's passage into a second consecutive All-Ireland club final is a timely reminder of Antrim's arrival into big-time hurling. A good result for the county is no longer considered an accident.

On Sunday Dinny Cahill takes the county side back into the top flight of league hurling, more confident than ever they can compete with the best. Dunloy's victory over Galway champions Portumna on Sunday did not surprise him, but rather confirmed his belief Antrim no longer accept defeat as the only option.

"Sure Dunloy are a very seasoned team now," said Cahill, "and I thought they were 10 points a better team. They did allow Portumna back into the game at a stage when they were coasting. But I think they have the experience to go even further this year, and that will be another massive boost for Antrim hurling.

"But it shows how strong hurling is in the county. I saw people from all over Antrim at that game on Sunday. I think in the past Antrim players did accept defeat too easily. And that they just couldn't compete with the southern teams. But that has changed."

Cahill is already famous for his journeys from his native Tipperary to train Antrim, five hours there and another five back, but it's a journey he is clearly not tiring off. He's traded in the jeep for a newer model but keeps the old enthusiasm. The league campaign starts on Sunday against Wexford - the team that ended their championship run last summer - and the throw-in can't come quick enough.

"The lads were hungry to get back training last September. So in many ways you have to hold the reins back with some of the lads. If we get a good run in Division One and maintain our status it will be very beneficial come the summer.

"But we had a good run in Division Two last year, and then we came out and played Wexford in a game we should have won. Now that we have a settled panel I feel we are capable of taking part in Division One, and being competitive. We were contesting that Wexford game right up to the final whistle. The players were gutted afterwards, but they're tough, and they are very hungry for hurling now."

While Cahill won't have the services of the Dunloy players for the immediate future, he is not concerned about the depth of his panel: "We brought in five of last year's minors, and we'd brought in four the year before. There are only 10 senior clubs altogether in Antrim. But we've also picked up a player from a division three club, Michael McGill, and he'll start next Sunday. So we've searched to county to make sure no one is left out. And there are more players coming on stream."

Cahill has his own measure of progression. "Well some people feel if you don't win an All-Ireland you're not making progress. I feel there is massive progress after being made in Antrim over the past two years. Not because Dinny Cahill is there. There is huge interest and support there as well. And Division One hurling will stand to this team . . . they're not going to be out of their depth."

Peter Canavan hopes to be back in action in early June, after surgery to his ankle, but after watching his Tyrone colleagues at Pearse Park on Sunday, he may harbour misgivings about the urgency of his return. They hammered Longford by 15 points and chalked up 3-10 from play.

Canavan's steady recovery has delighted manager Mickey Harte. "That's a bonus for anybody, I'm delighted he has got the operation done and that he's recovering well."

Reports that Martin Flanagan has dropped off the Westmeath football panel are wide of the mark, according to selector Paddy Collins.

Flanagan was not part of the team that drew with Fermanagh on Sunday, but that was because of the recurrence of an ankle injury at training the previous Thursday night. "That was the only reason Martin didn't travel," said Collins.