Antrim take Rules stand

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Antrim have taken a firm stance against a resumption of the International Rules series.

At a county board meeting, there was a unanimous verdict to keep the Rules alliance between Ireland and Australia in cold storage.

It is expected that several other Ulster counties may well follow Antrim's example - indeed, Down have already shown their hand by calling for the series to be totally abandoned.

And while the Rules series faces strong criticism, Antrim are pushing ahead in their quest for progress.

The Saffron Sweep, with a total prize fund of £100,000, has just been launched and the project is expected to realise a handsome profit which will be used for the development of gaelic games in the county.

County football boss Jody Gormley was at the launch of the scheme and he has already confirmed that he will be fielding an unchanged side for Saturday's National Football League Division Four tie against Offaly at Casement Park (7.00).

Antrim overcame Clare in their last outing and a third win on the trot would bolster their prospects of emerging from a division in which Offaly are still favourites to prove top cats.

The midlanders are a strong, forceful side but Antrim's defence has been solid so far although it will face a big test on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Cavan will face a Dublin side at the week-end that shows four changes.

The Dubs were not in action in round two as Cork forfeited the points for their intended game, so the last time Paul Caffrey's side saw competitive action was the O'Byrne Cup win over Longford.

Stephen Cluxton returns in goal in place of John Leonard while Collie Moran returns at wing-back.

In attack Mark Vaughan is placed at wing-forward and Jason Sherlock comes in at corner forward. John O'Brien and Kevin Bonner are the players to make way.

Meanwhile, Armagh are expected to be without Charlie Vernon for their week-end contest against Monaghan because of a knee problem which kept him out of today's UUJ v Queen's Sigerson Cup clash.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy; P McMahon, P Casey, C Moran; E Fennell, S Ryan; B Cullen, A Brogan, M Vaughan; J Sherlock, B Brogan, B McManamon.

ANTRIM: S McGreevy; T Scullion, A McClean, K O'Boyle; J Loughrey, S Kelly, J Crozier; J Quinn, M McCann; A Gallagher, K Niblock, T O'Neill; P Cunningham, M Magill, M Dougan.