McGourty to spearhead Antrim attack

Having lost their last two league games against Tipperary and Waterford, Antrim are determined to hit the ground running when the Ulster championship gets underway this weekend.

Antrim manager Jody Gormley is banking on a mix of youth, hunger and pride as his side take on Cavan in Sunday's Ulster championship preliminary round tie.

The Saffrons have been boosted by the return to fitness of Michael McCann and CJ McGourty, with the latter having recovered from a hip operation.

McCann will partner Aodhan Gallagher in midfield as Joe Quinn has been ruled out with a knee ligament injury.

The 20-year-old McGourty, who starred in Antrim's run through to last summer's Tommy Murphy Cup final, will start at full-forward alongside Ciaran Close and Paddy Cunningham.

UUJ star Cunningham scored 1-9 in Jordanstown's Sigerson Cup final win last month and will be hoping to mark his 23rd birthday on Sunday with some crucial scores.

Kevin Niblock has recovered from a knee complaint to be named at centre-forward, while Sean McGreevy is preferred to John Finucane in the goalkeeping position.

In all, Gormley's selection includes nine players who started last August's Tommy Murphy Cup final loss to Wicklow.

Looking forward to Sunday's encounter, Gormley said: "We literally threw away the chance of Division Three football next season, by losing to Tipperary and Waterford. Both of those games were winnable, but we weren't good enough on the day.

"We now have an opportunity to kickstart our season on Sunday and give our supporters some championship success, and I firmly believe if the Antrim players play to their ability, and have belief in themselves they are more than capable of getting a result."

Antrim and Cavan have met 37 times in the championship to date with the Breffni men registering 26 wins to Antrim's nine and there have been two draws.

Cavan won the sides' last championship clash back in 2005 - 1-15 to 2-6 in a replay - and Sunday's winners will face Armagh in a June 15 quarter-final.

ANTRIM (SFC v Cavan): S McGreevy; K O'Boyle, A McClean, J Loughrey; T Scullion, J Crozier, S Kelly (capt); A Gallagher, M McCann; P Close, K Niblock, T McCann; P Cunningham, CJ McGourty, C Close.