New Antrim manager, Mark Doran faces a baptism of fire when his side face Derry and Donegal in the Group stages of the McKenna Cup.
It was always going to be difficult whoever the Saffrons were drawn against but they don’t come more difficult than the Tir Connaill men.
.Jim McGuinness’ men will face Derry in what will be a repeat of the final from the last time the competition was played, when the Oak Leaf County won by a score of 0-12 to 0-6.
Luke Barrett was part of the Donegal backroom team that year, but he has since linked up with Derry, managed by Ciarán Meenagh.
Barrett was part of the set-up as they won back-to-back Ulster titles and reached the All-Ireland final, but stepped away from the backroom team back in September.
Mark Doran and his backroom team will relish the opportunity to run their eyes over Antrim’s new crop of players for 2026 against strong opposition but the Down native’s priority will be a quick return to division 3 after facing relegation last year.
Over the past number of years, Mark has been involved at the highest levels of the game, including coaching roles with Down, Clare, and Roscommon senior football teams, and team management with Ballybay and Slaughtneil.
Doran will have Cargin’s Michael McCann and Paul Bradley from Slaughtneil as his coaching staff while Barry Gillis is his goalkeeping coach and Brendan Murphy will be in charge of strength and conditioning.
The Down native has opted for experience as he attempts to make the return from division 4 at the first attempt with Cargin’s Tomas McCann and John Carron, Creggan’s Conor and kevin Small and All Saints Paddy McAleer amongst former players who have been recalled to the panel.
There was no McKenna Cup in 2025 but the Ulster GAA confirmed its return in September for what will be the 100th anniversary of the competition.