On the 21st October we carried a preview in the Saffron Gael on Antrim’s Ulster Minor Football Championship opening game against holders Monaghan. On the previous Saturday we attended an Antrim training session at Dunsilly and took the above photograph of the Antrim panel who were going through their paces and in good form.
In what has been a difficult year for all, manager Paddy Kelly and his backroom staff of Sean McKenna, Donal Laverty and Andrew Hasson had put in a lot of work to get their side ready for a tilt at the Ulster champions only for their game and all games in the competition being called off due to Covid19.
Bitter disappointment for Antrim and I’m sure all the teams who were preparing to take part but today we received a bit of better news with the announcement that the Ulster Minor championship has been re-fixed for Sunday the 20th December with Antrim’s game against Monaghan now scheduled for Corrigan Park.
We will of course be taking a closer look at Antrim and their chances against the Farney County in the week leading up to the game but tonight we publish the fixtures of a competition which will have given a huge shot in the arm to all young Gaels in the province.
Ulster Minor Football Championship
Sunday 20th December
Antrim v Monaghan (Corrigan Park) 1.00pm
Derry v Armagh (Owen Beg)
Donegal v Tyrone (Ballybofey)
Fermanagh v Down (Eniskillen)
If both teams are in agreement to play their games earlier that weekend, this will be facilitated by Ulster CCC.
Saturday 2nd/Sunday 3d January
Semi-Finals
Donegal/Tyrone v Derry/Armagh
Fermanagh/Down v Antrim/Monaghan