Antrim Masters bid to finish amongst the elite top four came up just short, their four victories out of six contests earned them a place in the second tier grouping for counties rated fifth to eighth in the competition for Dr Mick Loftus shield.
Kerry provide the opposition at Annanough GAC, in Vicarstown, County Laois, with a 2pm throw in.
Both counties will have a healthy respect for each other after a pulsating contest last year, which Kerry won by the minimum, requiring the facility of extra time to do so. Kerry are consistently rated amongst the top performing counties in this increasingly competitive and prestigious competition, regularly fielding players with All Ireland honours earned across several decades.
Kerry pushed reigning champions Tyrone close just last Saturday for a place in the elite top four, a four point defeat saw Kerry join Antrim Cavan and Mayo amongst an ultra-competitive division second tier grouping which was won for the last two years in succession by neighbours Derry.
Antrim do not expect to call on the services of St Gall’s duo Sean Kelly or Colin Brady, Cargin’s Michael McCann and Lamh Dhearg marksman Paddy Cunningham who tweaked his hamstring a few weeks ago against Tyrone. Management are sweating on the fitness of a number of other players who picked up knocks recently, and will delay announcing the starting team and panel until several last minute fitness tests have been completed.
Whilst a defeat will pull the curtain down on another season, the Saffron Masters carry a degree of confidence going into this encounter on the back of a highly competitive challenge game last week against Donegal, who have safely qualified for a top four berth. The North West men will fancy their chances of making it to this year’s elite Dr Loftus Cup final.
Seanie McGreevy, Michael Herron, Stephen O’Connell, Kieran Close, David McAlernon, Michael McCarry and Ryan Boyd are expected to spearhead Antrim’s challenge against the Kingdom, but it will take a mighty effort from all to qualify for the final pairing for their first time where they will face the winners of the other Shield semi-final, Mayo or Cavan in three weeks.
