Paddy Burke: Corrigan Park is now the beating heart of Antrim GAA

"Corrigan definitely created a central place that we could get used to and it gives you a home venue instead of bouncing around, which doesn't give you much benefit," said experienced Antrim hurler Burke. 

Since Casement Park became derelict, and after several years of bouncing between other club grounds, Corrigan Park has become the home of Antrim GAA. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Antrim hurler Paddy Burke says Corrigan Park has replaced Casement Park as the spiritual home of GAA in the county.

Davy Fitzgerald's side will play their home games there in the upcoming Leinster SHC, against Kilkenny at the end of this month and then Dublin on May 10.

But the Antrim footballers had to go out on a limb to get this Saturday's Ulster SFC quarter-final clash with Armagh staged there.

The provincial council initially wanted to play the game in Newry but was forced to backtrack following a furious response from Andy McEntee and his panel.

Experienced hurler Burke said Saturday is going to be a 'big day for Belfast' when the All-Ireland champions arrive with Kilkenny's visit then set to generate plenty of interest on the hurling front.

"When I started playing, we didn't really have a set home venue," said Burke. "We were bouncing around, playing some games in Cushendall, some in Dunloy and some in Loughgiel. We then made Corrigan our home pitch and they put in a stand.

"So 100% from a hurling point of view, we wouldn't want to be giving up our home venue. We're really familiar with it, we really enjoy it and we've had some good results there.

"Before that, I was comfortable playing in Cushendall but the Dunloy players were comfortable playing in Dunloy, and so on.

"Corrigan definitely created a central place that we could get used to and it gives you a home venue instead of bouncing around, which doesn't give you much benefit."

Burke was delighted that his football counterparts won their venue battle with the Ulster Council.

"It's a big day for Belfast," he said of Saturday's fixture. "Whatever the capacity will be, there will be some fanfare around it. I remember we played Tipperary in Corrigan Park, I think it was a charity game, in 2017, after they'd won the All-Ireland and the buzz around it was unbelievable.

"I still remember the buzz going out to play that day and hopefully the footballers will get to have a similar big day and that there are children who get to enjoy it. Armagh are obviously the All-Ireland champions so that just generates an extra buzz and hopefully it helps to promote the game."

The Antrim hurlers will begin their Leinster SHC campaign on Saturday week against Wexford, at Chadwicks Wexford Park.