Jenny McCavana (left) and Anna Finnegan who have returned to the Antrim ranks
Antrim ladies kick off their Lidl National Football League Divsion four campaign tomorrow with a visit to All-Ireland junior champions Fermanagh at Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown (2pm throw-in).
The sides met twice last year with the Erne ladies coming up trumphs on both occasions with a league victory at the Dub and a devastating 8-25-0-05 win in the TG4 Junior Championship group stage in Donagh. It was a dark day for the depleted Saffrons, although out of darkness has come light as manager Seamus McKenna has been boosted by the return of experienced St Galls duo – sharpshooting forward Maorisa McGourty and former captain from 2016 Jenny McCavana along with St Brigids Anna Finnegan.
McGourty, McCavana and Finnegan join Emma Kelly, Eimear Gallagher, Stephanie Cochrane, Aislinn McFarland in boosting the much needed experience that the Saffrons lacked last year whilst McKenna continues to show faith youth with Aldergrove twins Caitlin and Aoife Taggart, club mates Emily Falloon and Amy McCarthy. Alongside St Ergnat’s Aine Devlin and St Pauls duo Caoimhe Stewart and Chloe Dahunsi.
The Saffrons travel to Irvinestown in much better shape than their last visit to the Erne County and will hope to give the All-Ireland junior champions a fierce battle.
The Antrim management team of Dominic McKinely, Gary O’Kane, Terence McNaunton and Neal Peden
Lenny Harbinson has named his team for Sunday’s Allianz National Football League opener against Leitrim at Corrigan Park on Sunday (2pm throw-in). St Gall’s Chris Kerr starts in goal behind a full-back line of Peter Healy of St Enda’s, Patrick Gallagher of Glenavy and Niall Delargy of Casement’s Portglenone. Team captain Kevin O’Boyle of Cargin starts at right-half-back while St Brigid’s Mark Sweeney pivots the defence at centre back with Cargain’s James Laverty on his left. St Gall’s Sean Burke and Portglenone’s Niall McKeever are the midfield pairing while the half-forward line is made up of Rossa’s Stephen Beattie on the right, Lamh Dhearg’s Conor Murray on the ’40’ and Paddy McBride of St John’s on the left. McBride’s Naomh Eoin team-mate Mathew Fitzpatrick starts at top of the right, Moneyglass man Colum Duffin makes his National Football League debut at full-forward while Ryan Murray of Lamh Dheargh is top of the left. There is strength in depth on the subs bench with the likes of CJ McGourty, Paddy McAleer, Ruairi McCann and Ricky Johnston all named among the 10 substitutes so Harbinson will feel he has the team to get the league campaign off to a winning start
1 Chris Kerr