Bank of Ireland DR McKenna Cup (section B)
Sat 29th Dec at 2.00pm
Monaghan v Antrim
Antrim start a new season with an opening game in the Ice-breaking McKenna cup competition when they take the road to Monaghan on Saturday in what looks like a tough assignment when they line out against the Farney men at Clones.
Lenny Harbinson in his second year at the helm, has looked at available talent and the emphasis is certainly on youth with youngsters like Creggan’s Fintan Burke, Patrick Mc Cormick from Moneyglass and St Brigid’s Pat Finnegan included in his panel.
St Enda’s are focused on an upcoming semi-final on the National stage and representatives from the Glengormley based reigning Ulster Intermediate champions are not expected to join up with the squad until that mission is completed
Although there are no representatives from the reigning county champions Cargin included and just a single St Gall’s man in the present squad, Eoghan Mc Cabe, the panel is not lacking in experience.
Chris Kerr, long time net custodian has called time on his county career with Padraig Nugent expected to fill the void between the posts to join his club mates from St John’s, Patrick Mc Bride, and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Martin Johnston, who sat out most of last season recovering from a serious leg injury, is back in harness and together with his brother Ricki, Ruairi McCann, and new boy Fintan Burke are part of a Creggan quartet.
Lamh Dhearg’s Conor Murray is still recovering following a cruciate operation last year, but Declan Lynch has made suitable recovery from his injury woes and together with Ryan Murray and new boy Owen McKeown brings their contingent up to four.
Monaghan will start as firm favourites to make a winning start to their 2019 campaign and more than a few eyebrows will be raised if the Farney men, who only went down by a couple of points to Tyrone in the 2018 Ulster final, don’t open their campaign with a win.
Antrim will give it everything but Lenny Harbinson will see the McKenna Cup primarily as giving his side much needed games and experience for the forthcoming National League division 4 campaign and anything gained along the way as a bonus.
The Antrim squad is as follows;
Padraig Nugent (St John’s)
Patrick McBride (St John’s)
Matthew Fitzpatrick (St John’s)
Conor Hamill (Glenavy)
Patrick Gallagher (Glenavy)
Martin Johnston (Creggan)
Ricki Johnston (Creggan)
Ruairi McCann (Creggan)
Fintan Burke (Creggan)
Niall Delargy (Casement’s)
Jack Dowling (St Brigid’s)
Patrick Finnegan (St Brigid’s)
Stephen Beatty (Rossa)
Eoghan McCabe (St Gall’s)
Patrick McCormick (Moneyglass)
Collum Duffin (Moneyglass)
Mark Sweeney (St Judes)
Andrew Sweeney (St Judes)
Michael McCarry (All Saint’s)
Connell Lemon (All Saint’s)
Declan Lynch (Lamh Dhearg)
Ryan Murray (Lamh Dhearg)
Owen McKeown (Lamh Dhearg)
Darren McCormick (Tir na Nog)