Declan Bogue: Trying to move Antrim’s clash with Cavan out of Corrigan Park a bad call from Ulster chiefs

Declan Bogue

Making a stand: Antrim officials have fought to keep their match with Cavan at Corrigan Park

©INPHO/Cathal McOscar

Making a stand: Antrim officials have fought to keep their match with Cavan at Corrigan Park

March 16 2022 11:00 AM

The meeting of the Ulster Council’s Competition Controls Committee tonight will bring a swift resolution to an odd bit of business that erupted a week ago.

With Antrim having been pulled out of the hat in the Ulster Championship before Cavan, they were given home advantage.

However, there was some chicanery involved that had county delegates voting that the game should be moved out of Corrigan Park to a larger venue.

On one hand, it makes sense as more spectators can get to see the game.

On the other hand, it is downright unfair.

That only Tyrone and Derry delegates voted against the move seems strange, especially given that the Antrim delegates were left in the dark about the move right up until the hour before the meeting commenced.

Antrim have been caught up in the failure to deliver Casement.

Their last Championship home game was against Monaghan in 2013. In the meantime, extensive work has been carried out to get a fine stand in place at the Whiterock Road venue.

It has hosted high-profile National Hurling League games and while the expected capacity will be capped around 3,500, it is an element that adds colour to the occasion.

Especially when you consider that Antrim are likely to end up in Division Two by the end of this league campaign while Cavan are trying to extract themselves from Division Four, it sounds like a county getting worried.