Tomas McCann

By Brendan Crossan

TOMAS McCann believes the GAA have been a bit short-sighted in their fixtures schedule ahead of Antrim’s Division Four promotion play-off with Waterford in Dungarvan next weekend – but insists the Saffrons won’t have any excuses in their bid to haul themselves out of the basement after a four-year stay.

Antrim have to travel to Waterford, at a surprisingly early throw-in time of 12.15pm, because they played two home games out of three in a four-team group this season, while the Decies just had one home game in a three-team group.

Enda McGinley’s Saffrons claimed three one-point wins against Louth (a), Sligo (h) and Leitrim (h) to top Division Four North – but there was no incentive in doing so for a semi-final play-off that is a straight promotion shoot-out.

“What do you do? It’s one of those things,” said McCann, who fired over the winner against Leitrim last Sunday.

“We’re happy to be in this situation. I just think it’s a wee bit of short-sightedness on behalf of the GAA. What’s the reward for finishing top of your group? Even scheduling the game for 12.15 on a Sunday.

“But I’d be honest with you, there will be no excuses about travelling and the time of the game – none. It is what it is.

“If we have to play the game at quarter-past-12 or 11 o’clock in the morning, we’ll play it. That’s the way it is. We’re gearing up to play a game regardless of where it is and what time it’s at.”

The Cargin man, who has shrugged off hamstring trouble, added: “If somebody said to us at the start of the League that we’ll be playing a promotion play-off game after three wins and with plenty to work on, plenty to analyse, you’d have taken it.”