Football

“I look at the League and it’s the strongest Division Three since I’ve been involved with Antrim” - Andy McEntee

Clare footballers head for Corrigan Park for NFL opener with Saffrons

Conor Stewart scored Antrim's second half goal
Conor Stewart scored Antrim's second half goal Conor Stewart is expected to be one of Antrim's driving forces in 2025

Allianz Football League Division Three, round one

Antrim v Clare (Sunday, Corrigan Park, 1pm)

THE Antrim senior footballers have become accustomed to life in Division Three - and given the injuries the squad continues to endure and a few notable retirements, consolidation come March 9 might feel like a very good result.

Declan Lynch (Lamh Dhearg), Ruairi McCann (Creggan) and Paddy McAleer (All Saints) are the retirees. Lynch was one of the most experienced and versatile defenders in Antrim’s ranks. McCann was the team’s skillful playmaker and McAleer one of the best all-rounders the county has produced.

Peter Healy (foot), Cathal Hynds (groin), Colm McLarnon (knee), Adam Loughran (groin), Eoghan McCabe (groin) and Dominic McEnhill (hamstring) are just some of the notables on Andy McEntee’s injury list, virtually all of them starters.

In his two previous seasons in charge, Antrim flirted briefly with promotion one year and had a bit of a relegation scare in the other - but held their own in the third tier before embarking on strong Tailteann Cup campaigns.

This year’s Division Three, on paper at least, feels like it got a whole lot stronger.

Kildare and Clare dropped down from Division Two and Laois and Leitrim won promotion.

“Our aspirations are no different to anybody else’s,” McEntee said.

“You want to have as good a League as possible. But I look at the League and it’s the strongest Division Three since I’ve been involved with Antrim.

“You look at the teams that have come down and the teams that have come up – it’s extremely competitive. And when you look at our injuries you’re thinking what does a good League look like?

“The best-case scenario is you’re in contention of promotion with a few games to go. You’d take that.”

The Clare footballers make the long trip to Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon under new manager Peter Keane.

The former Kerry boss takes over the hot-seat from fellow county man Mark Fitzgerald who guided the Banner to a Munster final in his one season in charge.

Keane, though, could be a really canny appointment and observers will see at Corrigan if there’s a renewed kick in them to get back to Division Two.

This mightn’t be a vintage group of Antrim footballers but they’re renowned for finishing games strongly.

The clutch of St Brigid’s men could have an invigorating effect on the side and in Conor Stewart, Patrick McBride, Marc Jordan and Ryan Murray they have respected attacking arsenal.

There’s a huge momentum giver on offer at Corrigan Park tomorrow afternoon.

We’ll get a snapshot of Antrim and Clare’s pre-season endeavours and who has it in the legs going down the home stretch.

Antrim football manager Andy McEntee. PICTURE MAL MCCANN
Antrim football manager Andy McEntee enters his third year in charge PICTURE MAL MCCANN (Mal McCann)