Waterford play host to Antrim in Dungarvan

NEWLY crowned Munster hurling champions Waterford will host their Ulster counterparts, Antrim, in a tournament game in Dungarvan on Saturday evening (7.15)

The game was originally intended to mark the official opening of the new stand at the Ring club grounds in the heart of the Ghaeltacht, but following discussions between club officials and the county board it was decided to switch the game to Fraher Field to cater for the expected huge attendance. However the official opening of the stand at the Ring venue will go ahead at 5 o'clock on Saturday and will be performed by Waterford County Board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan.

Two weeks before their Munster semi-final against Cork last May, Waterford travelled to Antrim for the weekend which included a game against the northerners.

This weekend’s visit to Dungarvan is a reciprocal one and both counties are committed to fielding as near to full strength as possible.

“Antrim will arrive in Dungarvan on Friday evening and will return on Sunday. We hope to provide them with the same level of hospitality they afforded us last May’’, the Waterford chairman said. “However, the most important part of the weekend will be the hurling game and it will be taken very seriously by both counties’’.

This will probably be Waterford’s only outing before their All-Ireland semi-final date in Croke Park on August 11.