Antrim’s withdrawal symptoms ahead of final

SOME Antrim clubs have withdrawn their players from the county team to play defending champions Cork in Saturday’s All-Ireland IHC semi-final at Parnell Park.

The decision means the county is unable to field a team and county board officers have intervened.

Antrim play their county championship on a home and away basis with the winners going through on aggregate scores. There are four crucial games on Sunday and the clubs have withdrawn their players as they are to not prepared to risk injury.

County PRO Terry Cormican said the intermediate team manager had named his side on Sunday night, but was forced to withdraw it on Monday after a number of clubs signified their players would not be available.

“We are able to field our second best senior team in this championship and when it was put to the players about taking part, they were all for it as it was giving them a chance to win an All-Ireland medal,” said Cormican.

“I don’t want to contemplate giving Cork a walkover. That wouldn’t be Antrim’s way. The county officers have decided to intervene and, hopefully, there will be some agreement.

“Part of Antrim’s problem over the years has been the power of the clubs and that needs to be addressed if we are to make any progress.

“It will be tomorrow before we know if we have a team to play.”

If the game goes ahead, Cork will be without two players from the victorious Munster final line-up.

Wing-forward Paul McGrath has a leg injury, while Colin O’Reilly broke a bone in his hand playing in the county championship. Both players are from the Blackrock club.

According to team coach John Keane, these will be the only changes from the Munster final.

He said: “It’s not easy finding readymade replacements for forwards, and we have postponed naming our team until tonight in order to have another look at players in training.”