By Gerry Johnston

The Antrim Intermediate team are involved in a crucial Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship meeting with Armagh at Dunloy this Saturday afternoon.

Both Antrim and Armagh are coming into the match with perfect records. Armagh have won three from three and are already guaranteed a place in the semi-finals while Antrim have won two from two and requires just one more point to guarantee a place in the last four of the competition.

These sides have met a few times this season with Armagh coming out on top in the league and the Ulster Intermediate final but Antrim have kept the games competitive which hasn’t been the case for Armagh’s matches in this competition so far. They started with a 33-point win over Limerick and followed that up with a 24-point win over Down and then a 30-point win over Roscommon.

Antrim have also been comfortable in their wins. They beat Roscommon by 12 points and last time out they beat Down by 14 points. Both of those games were away from home so they will be hopeful that with their last two games at home they will be able to do enough to get over the line.

Avoiding defeat to Armagh will be enough to secure a semi-final place for Antrim but even if they are unable to win on Saturday, they will have an insurance policy with a game against Limerick still to come. That would be very much a second prize though and the target will be to secure the last four spots this weekend.

These Ulster rivals have enjoyed some good battles this year and Saturday should be another tough game. They both look to be in pole position for a place in the last four but with the group winner facing the runner-up in the other group, there’s plenty at stake for both sides.

This game will be the first of a double-header alongside the senior match against Galway.