Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship.

The Intermediate Hurling Championship gets underway this weekend with Group 1 games on today (Saturday) and the Group 2 matches down for decision tomorrow.

In what is in my opinion is the toughest and most competitive section across all our championships, hurling and football, there are five teams in Group 1 and six in Group 2, with as many as eight or nine of those capable of winning it.

Today’s games are in Group 1, which has five teams, sees the 2022 Junior champions Glenarm take on last years’ Junior winners Cloughmills at Feystown at 5pm, while St Gall’s host Oisins, Glenariffe at the Bog Meadows at the same time. Carey Faughs, who by virtue of the fact they won promotion to Division 1 this season, are the overall favourites for the title, have a bye today and will get a chance of viewing their future opponents Shane O’Neill’s, whom they host in two weeks’ time.

It is an early start for the six teams in Group 2 tomorrow with all three games having a throw-in time of 1pm, because of the All Ireland Football final. Tir na nÓg take on Con Magees Glenravel at Whitehill, Sarsfields welcome Cushendun Emmet’s to the Bear Pit while Cloney Gaels have home advantage against St Paul’s