McGourty back in Antrim fold

CJ McGourty has become the first player from St Gall's All-Ireland Club Championship-winning side to return to training with the Antrim senior football panel.

It is a big step for the young forward who was dropped by Saffrons manager Liam Bradley last year for disciplinary reasons. He returned to training earlier this week.

McGourty was a key figure at Croke Park on St. Patrick's Day as St. Gall's collected an historic All-Ireland title with a 0-13 to 1-5 victory over Clare's Kilmurry-Ibrickane.

He has been nursing a hip injury and is expected to undergo surgery, but may postpone it until the end of the Championship summer if he can work his way back into the Antrim side.

Bradley's charges are riding high at the top of Allianz NFL Division 3 at the moment, and will entertain promotion rivals Louth in a top of the table clash on Saturday night.

A number of other St Gall's players are poised to return to the Antrim squad in the coming weeks, including defender Sean Kelly who missed out on last season's promotion from Division 4 and run through to the Ulster final.