ANTRIM hurlers have to account for themselves and take the blame for their opening National League defeat in Meath.
Manager Dominic McKinley, who bore the brunt of an embarrassed county, says the players must stand up and admit their wrongs and make them right in tomorrow's now vital Division Two clash with Cork at Casement Park (2.30).
Meath's ash was varnished and prepared and they deserved their win over an Antrim side that played with boots possibly too big.
Several positional changes have been made to the team which lost that game while Ruairi McNaughton makes his debut at full-forward. McNaughton joins another debutant in the full-forward line, Cushendall club mate Aidan Delargy.
Allister Elliot and Paul McKillen are ruled out with injury following the Meath defeat. A second defeat in this Division for the Glen men would leave them aiming for a mathematical passage to the top flight and the quarter-finals of the National League.
Antrim's problem - playing poorly against the pauper and playing richly against the king, needs to change.
Meanwhile Derry named their side to face Carlow in Division Three:
Derry: J Donaghy; J Young, C Murray, P Doherty; N Mullen, D Cassidy, B Kelly; P McEldowney, R McCloskey; D Kelly, O Collins, A.N.Other; G Biggs, G McGonigle, J O'Dwyer. Subs: K Stevenson, J B McNicholl, C McGurk, M Collins, A.N. Other, H McCracken, A McCloskey, R O'Hagan, R McEldowney, A Hickey, S McCartney.
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Injuries and 'flu in the Derry camp mean Brian Mullins will once again include U21 players in tomorrow's McKenna Cup tie against Cavan at Cootehill.
Harry Gribben, the Oak Leaf U21 boss, was hoping his players would be rested for tomorrow's clash as Derry's championship clash with either Donegal or Cavan is scheduled for this day week.
But injuries to the likes of Fergal McCusker (groin) and Ronan Rocks (ankle) and 'flu' affecting Kieran McKeever, Seamus Downey, and Jonathan Kelly mean that Johnnie McBride, David Hasson, and David O'Neill have been included in the Derry senior line-up.
Meanwhile, Newtownbutler youngster Raymond Johnson will earn his first senior Fermanagh start in the Ernesiders' McKenna Cup clash with Armagh at the Athletic Grounds (3pm). Johnson takes over from Mark Gallagher at right half-forward. Hamstring injuries rule out both Kieran Donnelly and Paul Greene, while Raymond Curran is suspended.
Derry SF: D Hasson; E McKeever, J McBride, K Bryson; D O'Neill, H Downey, G Coleman; A Tohill, D Dougan; B McCormick, D Heaney, G McGill; J Brolly, S McLarnon, E Gormley. Subs: D McCusker, A McGuckin, R Boylan.
Fermanagh SF: C McAdam (capt); T Callaghan, S Breen, M Lilley; K Gallagher, B King, J Gilheaney; P Brewster, L McBarron; R Johnson, C Curran, M O'Rourke; Raymond Gallagher, Rory Gallagher, S King. Subs: AN Other, P McGuinness, S Burns, M Greene, S Maguire, O McShea, M Gallagher, R McEnhill, T Brewster.
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ST MALACHY'S High School, Castlewellan reached their first ever All-Ireland U18 Vocational Schools final at Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday.
They came from behind in extra time to beat Davitt College, Castlebar [2-18 to 2-15] in an exciting and high powered semi-final.
The football throughout of a very high standard, as has been the norm in the competition this year in the competition, with each side in turn having dominant spells.
Castlewellan emerged triumphant because of their greater teamwork, almost perfect fitness, and an ability to make and take scores in a very evenly-contested game.
St Malachy's: Eamon Clarke; Gary O'Hare, Declan Maginn, Kevin Morgan; Conor Boyle, Aidan O'Prey, Paul Hanna (0-1); Cormac Burns, Jim Magorrian (0-2); Conor Morgan, Brian McGeown (0-7), Gerard McCrickard (0-3); Emmett Devlin (1-1), Colin Laverty (1-1), Noel Devlin (0-1). Subs: Damien McGrady (0-2) for N Devlin; Stephen Brannigan for C Burns; C Burns for J Magorrian
