Saffrons make changes for Kilkenny visit

DD Quinn, Kevin Elliott and Karl Stewart have been recalled to the Antrim team for tomorrow's NHL Division 1B meeting with defending champions Kilkenny (Ballycastle, throw-in 2pm).

The game, which will see the Cats making a round trip in excess of 500 miles, will mark the official opening of the Pairc MacUilin.

GAA President Nickey Brennan, newly installed Ulster President Tom Daly and Antrim GAA Chairman Dr John McSparron will be on hand at the MacUilin club for the opening ceremony at 1.30pm.

The Antrim side for tomorrow's tie includes St. Gall's clubman Stewart at full-forward. Paddy Richmond is the player to make way, while Quinn also returns in goal, with Ryan McGarry dropping to the bench, and Elliott will line out at left half-back.

Liam Watson has lost out in a reshuffle which sees Ciaran Herron moving to midfield and Karl McKeegan given a role at right half-forward.

Kilkenny will be missing Henry Shefflin and Eoin Larkin for the trip north.

Shefflin, who helped Ballyhale Shamrocks win the All-Ireland club title last weekend, is getting married next week and Larkin is nursing a hip injury he sustained in Kilkenny's Bank Holiday Monday win over Limerick.

The James Stephens clubman expects to be sidelined for "a couple of weeks."

ANTRIM (NHL v Kilkenny) - DD Quinn; B McAuley, M McCambridge, S Delargy; M Molloy, J Campbell, K Elliott; C Herron, B Herron; K McKeegan, N McManus, M Herron; B McFall, K Stewart, P Shields.