Limerick v Antrim
Allianz NFL Division 3
Mick Neville Park Rathkeale 12-30 Sunday
Antrim have announced their team for tomorrow’s (Sunday) difficult away trip to Limerick with All Saints, Kavan Keenan making his National League debut at left back following a couple of impressive outings in the McKenna Cup.
With a number of the panel still out through injury, including team captain Peter Healey, Andy McEntee has fielded a strong lineout with the half-back line of Marc Jordan, Joseph Finnegan and fit again, Dermot McAleese, potentially the strongest unit.
The Meath supremo has continued his experiment with Eunan Walsh at full-back and the Aghagallon man has certainly earned the shirt after impressive outings in the McKenna Cup where he has weighed in with scores.
Cathal Hynds is another who has impressed as he earned a mid-field birth at the end of last season and the Con Magee’s youngster is partnered in the Antrim engine room by Paddy McAleer who has recovered from a lengthy injury lay-off, which saw him miss all of last season.
Hynds’ brother Eoin returns to the Antrim colours after a year out, while St. Gall’s Niall Burns is the other debutant in a forward line with a lot of scoring potential where the two Ruairi McCann’s, Aghagallon and Creggan and Patrick McBride bring a wealth of experience.
A win would set Antrim up nicely for what looks like a difficult league campaign and if the Saffrons can hit the ground running at Mick Neville Park then that win is well within their capabilities and would set them up for the season ahead.