McKenna Cup Section A Round 2

Tomorrow’s McKenna cup meeting with Cavan will provide Antrim and their new manager, Lenny Harbison with another severe test but also with another opportunity to take a good luck at his players in the cauldron of McKenna Cup combat as he strives to put a panel together for the forthcoming National League division 4 campaign.

Antrim got a brief glimpse at life in the fast lane when they conceded heavily to Tyrone at the Athletic grounds on Wednesday night in a game that saw debuts for Paddy Nugent in goals, Connell Lemon, Michael McCarry, Kristan Healey and Gareth Magee and the return of Niall McKeever and Colm Duffin to the starting line-up.

Despite conceding 4-20 manager Harbison will take some positives from the game and a return of 2-11 against the Ulster champions will have given him something to build on. The Antrim panel has been together for quite a while now and reports suggest that a lot of work has been put in and that the spirit in the camp is good.

Cavan had a three point win over St. Mary’s in their opening game and Matty McGleenan has been running the rule over a number of new players himself as he attempts to strengthen his panel. Tomorrow’s game has been switched to Woodland’s 4G pitch and this could give Antrim a slight edge but they will never the less start as underdogs.

The Breffni Blues will pose a serious challenge and Harbison and his backroom team will be looking to tighten things up at the back and hoping to put together another good scoring return and see where that takes his side come 3-15 on Sunday.

Conor Murray (left) and Patrick McBride could return to the Antrim starting lineup as they take on Cavan in round 2 of the McKenna Cup at Woodlands tomorrow (Sunday). Throw in 2-00 pm