NFL Division 4

Antrim v Derry Sunday (Corrigan Park)

Antrim footballers face a tough opener to this year’s division 4 Campaign when they face Derry at Corrigan Park this Sunday. The Saffrons were in the race for a promotion place until late in last year’s league campaign but a draw with Laois and defeat to Carlow, the two teams who were promoted, saw their promotion chances dashed.

Antrim will look back at those two results with regret. They led Laois by a point with time almost up before conceding a late equaliser and had opportunities to put Carlow away but lost to the Leinster men who went on to accompany Laois in promotion to division 3.

Again promotion will be the primary aim of Lenny Harbinson’s side but this year’s campaign looks more difficult with Sunday’s opponents Derry installed as firm favourites to make a quick return to division 3 and Wexford the other side cited as promotion favourites before a ball is kicked.

Damien McErlain’s Derry have performed well in this year’s McKenna Cup which included wins over Fermanagh and Ulster University and defeats to Tyrone. The Oak Leaf County qualified for the semi-final as best runners up where they lost to eventual winners Tyrone again but with a much improved performance.

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Three points separated Derry and Tyrone in the semi-final and with a number of University players now returning to their panel, McErlain’s side look a formidable outfit. McErlain had a successful career as Derry Minor manager and led them to an All Ireland final last year where they lost out to Kerry and he is likely to include a number of those minors from the last three years in Sunday’s side.

His options have been greatly enhanced by the return of a number of Slaughtneil players to the panel including Christopher Bradley and Karl McKeague and they will go into Sunday’s game as firm favourites.

Antrim’s McKenna Cup campaign saw them lose heavily to Monaghan and Armagh before finishing with a win over St. Mary’s but their manager Lenny Harbinson always saw the competition as an opportunity to look at new players and his hand was weakened by unavailability and retirement of key players from last year’s side and was missing a number of players from St. Enda’s who have been engaged in a very productive All Ireland Intermediate Championship campaign.

A number of the new faces saw action during the McKenna Cup campaign with Moneyglass’ Patrick McCormick, Tir na nOg’s Darren McCormick, Patrick Brannigan from St. Brigid’s, Andrew Sweeney  St. Jude’s, Eognan McCabe St. Gall’s and Owen McKeown and Kevin Quinn Lamh Dhearg all seeing action.

At the time of writing the Antrim team was not available but I would expect Harbison to go for experience as he attempts to collect the scalp that could propel his side to a strong division 4 campaign.

Paddy Nugent returns to the panel after a year out and is likely to replace retired keeper, Chris Kerr while Ricki Johnston, Paddy Gallagher, Declan Lynch, Michael McCarry and Niall Delargy are amongst those likely to feature in defence.

Mark Sweeney could start at mid-field with a number of options to partner the St. Jude’s man including Matthew Fitzpatrick and Eunan Walsh while in attack Ryan Murray, if fit has been their outstanding performer to date while Patrick McBride, Colum Duffin, Martin Johnston and Owen McKeown are others hoping to get the nod in attack.

A bumper crowd is expected to the Whiterock Road venue so get there early and cheer on the Saffrons as they attempt to start their division 4 campaign with a moral boosting win which would give them a lot of momentum going into a difficult campaign.

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