Antrim seek home improvements

ANTRIM hurlers play the first of what could be three home games in the championship on Sunday when they meet Down in the Ulster final in Casement Park.

Two weeks later, they will line up against Galway in the first phase of the new-style Liam McCarthy Cup qualifier series and, depending on the draw they could also have home advantage for their next outing — with the expectation that they will be meeting Waterford. The venue for this game will be decided by which team is drawn out of the hat first.

Under the new system, there will be five separate phases which will end with two teams going forward to meet the Munster and Leinster champions in the All-Ireland semi-finals.