CASE CLOSED & NO MYSTERY IN ANTRIM MISERY
Antrim
v
Tyrone Athletic Grounds, Armagh, 6pm
THEY are the county without a home and the longer the gates of Casement Park remain locked, the harder it remains for Antrim to compete in Ulster.
It’s six years since Casement closed and five years since the Saffrons’ last Ulster championship win (against Fermanagh).
So while we were treated to two cracking games in Ulster last weekend, no one expects Antrim to be able to raise the excitement levels to a similar pitch tonight against last year’s All-ireland finalists Tyrone.
“Not having Casement is very frustrating on a number of levels,” admits Antrim boss Lenny Harbinson, whose side must play this ‘home’ quarter-final in the Athletic Grounds.
“A home pitch, a home venue and home support are all important, and even from a practical point of view, having your own changing-room is something we miss.
“In the modern game there’s a lot of analytical information that you want to get across to players before the game and at half-time.
“Not having the basics like large screens to be able to go through statistical visual analysis takes away from what you can do.”
The turnover in playing personnel year on year is massive in Antrim and another reason why they can’t gain any traction in the Ulster championship.
They lost 10 of the team that played in last year’s All-ireland qualifier defeat by Offaly, and 16 of the squad in total.
Understandably, that led to a poor start in Division Four this year.
“Results were not what we’d have liked but at the end we steadied the ship and started to put some results together,” Harbinson said.
Padraig Nugent, James Mcauley, Patrick Mccormick and Kevin Quinn are all making their Championship debuts for Antrim tonight while fullforward James Smith makes his Ulster championship debut.
However, midfielder Martin Johnston – who started all seven of Antrim’s League games – is on the bench.
Colm Cavanagh, a surprise omission from the Tyrone line-up for the preliminary round win over Derry, is back in the team for the Red Hands. ANTRIM TYRONE TV TIMES: Live on BBC2 NI & iplayer from 5.45pm