Club v county row undermining Antrim’s U21 hopes

THE struggle between club and county continues in Antrim. With the county U21 hurlers due to play Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final in Navan on Saturday, several clubs are reluctant to release their players because of county championship matches the following day.

County PRO Terry Cormican said: “in such circumstances it is very difficult for the selectors to pick a team and while we will field, how strong the team will be depends entirely on who is available.” Champions Kilkenny include seven of last year’s team.

Included in that septet are John Tennyson, Eoin Larkin and Richie Power, who played with the senior team last Sunday. Ciaran Hoyne, Michael Rice, James Fitzpatrick and Willie O’Dwyer are also senior panel members and were on last year’s winning team.