Team news ahead of Down’s visit of Antrim

By Michael McMullan

THE Down and Antrim teams have been named ahead of Saturday’s Ulster SFC clash in Páirc Esler.

Conor Laverty has made three changes from the team that lost to Westmeath including Ryan Johnston,

Barry O’Hagan, who sustained a knee injury in their NFL win over Antrim in Newry last year, is on the bench after featuring against Westmeath.

Andy McEntee has handed out six championship debuts including Glenravel trio, Cathal Hynds, Eoin Hynds and Ryan McQuillan, with Ronan Boyle , Kavan Keenan and Conor Hand also set for their first taste of championship action.

Antrim will have to plan without Aghagallon’s Ruairi McCann – scorer of two goals when the sides met last season – due to illness having made a comeback from injury against Wicklow.

Antrim: Michael Byrne, Ronan Boyle, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan, Declan Lynch, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese, Cathal Hynds, Marc Jordan , Conor Hand, Patrick McBride, Eoin Hynds, Ryan McQuillan, Ruairí McCann, Dominic McEnhill
Subs: Luke Mulholland, Benen Kelly, Colm McLarnon, Cormac McGettigan, Daniel McNicholl, Eoghan McCabe, James McDonnell, Niall Burns, Patrick McAleer, Pat Shivers, Liam McLarnon

Down: John O’Hare, Peter Fegan, Ryan McEvoy, Ceilum Doherty, Miceal Rooney, Pierce Laverty, Daniel Guinness, Jonny Flynn, Odhran Murdock, Shane Annett, Liam Kerr, Ryan Johnston, Oisin Savage, Pat Havern, Danny Magill
Subs: Kevin Anderson, Ryan Magill, Finn McElroy, James Guinness, Shealan Johnston, Conor McCrickard, Barry O Hagan, Rory Mason, Gareth McKibben, Eamonn Brown, John McGovern