By Michael McMullan ANTRIM can still beat the drop to Division Four but the odds are stacked against Andy McEntee’s side. After losing a crunch bottom of the table clash at home to Sligo, Antrim must beat Kildare in Newbridge. It’s that simple. Their problem is that staying clear of the league’s bottom rung is not […]
By Michael McMullan THE last time Sligo won in Belfast, it was a masterclass from Mark Breheny that sank the Saffrons at Casement Park. That was 2011 when both teams were relegated from Division Two. The counties have met eight times since. There was last year’s Tailteann Cup draw in Kingspan Breffni. As for the […]
By Michael McMullan ANTRIM’S win over Leitrim has opened up the promotion door again as they head to Portlaoise this weekend. A rampant Kildare side are odds-on to bounce straight back to Division Two, leaving one spot up for grabs. It would be a seismic shock if the Lilywhites implode. Andy McEntee’s side face Laois […]
By Michael McMullan AFTER two defeats on the bounce, Antrim face Saturday’s visit of Leitrim knowing they’ll need a change in fortunes to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle. Worse still, they’ll have to do without midfield duo Conor Hand and Conor Stewart who were shown straight red cards in Sunday’s defeat to Offaly. […]
By Michael McMullan PROMOTION is in the back of Patrick McBride’s mind. Not at the front, but it’s in there somewhere. He’ll not focus on it now. Before Sunday’s win over Clare, the Banner County was front and centre in the Saffrons’ thoughts. Now it’s Fermanagh. Paddy McBride needed to be told they play Offaly third. […]
By Michael McMullan ANTRIM forward Patrick McBride insists his side’s Ulster Senior Football Championship clash with All-Ireland champions Armagh should take place at Corrigan Park. It comes after reports the clash will be moved elsewhere due to the Whiterock Road venue’s capacity not meeting the demand for tickets. The Irish News reported the decision came […]
By Michael McMullan THE last time Antrim were in Division Two was 2011 when their only victory wasn’t enough to keep the Saffrons from beating drop. Nine Paddy Cunningham points helped them to victory against Meath, who were under the watch of Seamus McEnaney. Fast-forward to now and it’s another former Royal manager, Andy McEntee, […]
Five Ulster counties have exited the race for championship honours and Niall Gartland runs the rule over their seasons: TYRONE THE championship trumps all else, particularly in Tyrone, so fans of the Red Hand County will feel bitterly disappointed that they bowed out of the race for Sam last Saturday with their preliminary quarter-final defeat […]
By Michael McMullan ANDY McEntee has named his squad for Saturday’s Ulster derby with Fermanagh in the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals (Brewster Park, 6pm). For the third game in success, the Saffrons are unchanged with skipper Peter Healey again listed on the bench. Antrim were beaten by eventual winners Meath in last year’s semi-final and have […]
By Niall Gartland THE ambition is to secure top spot by overcoming Sligo this Sunday, but Antrim footballer Marc Jordan knows it won’t be the end of the world if they fail in that quest and end up in the preliminary quarter-finals. The Saffrons finished top of their group in the Tailteann Cup last year […]
