ANTRIM defender Declan Lynch has revealed his dream is to play an Ulster Championship match in Casement Park before the end of his career and insists it wouldn’t be a shock to the Saffrons if they topple Donegal in Sunday’s provincial opener in Ballybofey.
Speaking at the county’s Championship press night at O’Donnell’s GAC on Monday night, Lynch firmly believes the new Casement Park will be built before he retires from Gaelic football.
A defeat to Monaghan in 2013 was the last time Antrim hosted an Ulster Championship match before Casement Park closed its gates.
Since then, Antrim have played all their Ulster Championship matches on the road and hosted All-Ireland Qualifier matches at Corrigan Park.
Lynch, who made his Championship debut against Fermanagh in 2014, said: “There is just something special about playing in an Ulster Championship game, and it’s just a pity Casement Park isn’t there for the Belfast crowd to experience a home Championship game.
“But I do believe I’ll play at Casement Park in a Championship game. There is a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes, different groups pushing to get it built because it’s only going to be for the betterment of Antrim football and our community as a whole.”
The 25-year-old has excelled in a deep-lying role for Antrim this season and with skipper James Laverty out injured, the Lamh Dhearg clubman is expected to assume the centre-back position in Ballybofey on Sunday.
“We’ve know all year that nobody in Antrim gives us a chance,” he said.
“The players and our families are the only ones that believe we have a chance of going up to Ballybofey and winning.
“We know it’s going to take a massive effort. The talk was Donegal being in transition but after a few League games that slogan disappeared.
“But we have the talent to produce a mammoth performance and to come out the right side of it. It wouldn’t be a shock to us [to win].
“It might be a shock to people outside of our group and Ireland as a whole. We’re going up to Ballybofey to take a scalp and hopefully we can earn a bit more respect around the country.”
Injured trio Kevin O’Boyle, Conor Murray and Ryan Murray join Laverty on the sidelines this weekend, while Kevin Niblock was forced to quit the panel due to a knee problem.
But Lynch has every faith in the raft of new players that have been drafted into the panel this season under joint managers Frank Fitzsimons and Gearoid Adams.
“I know we had the likes of Mick McCann and Paddy Cunningham who have been exceptional footballers. But I feel we’re building something special and this group of players is going to be here for the next load of years.”
In a wide-ranging interview ahead of tomorrow’s Irish News Championship supplement, Lynch acknowledged Niblock’s contribution to the Antrim cause.
“Kevin put his head in where boys wouldn’t put their foot in but I think the injuries have taken their toll on him. He’s a massive loss to Antrim.
“Kevin knew he had to step aside because of his injuries. [But] We don’t care who goes because there is always someone else that can step in.
“You can’t rely on two or three boys to win us the game or bring us forward. We’ve young boys coming in and they’re itching to get playing.”
Antrim fielded five players under 20 in their last NFL game against Longford last month and there is expected to be a host of Championship debutants in Ballybofey.
