Football

Antrim GAA hoping to increase Corrigan Park capacity for Cavan showdown

Corrigan Park in west Belfast Picture Mal McCann
Corrigan Park in west Belfast Picture Mal McCann Corrigan Park in west Belfast Picture Mal McCann

ANTRIM GAA is confident the Ulster Council will back its plans to increase Corrigan Park’s capacity to over 4,000 for the senior footballers’ Ulster Championship showdown with Cavan on Saturday April 23.

Work is currently being carried out at the west Belfast venue to level out the area behind the goal on the far side of the pitch which would allow a further 500 or 600 supporters to attend the eagerly anticipated match.

It will be Antrim’s first home match in the provincial series since 2013 following the closure of Casement Park.

Last month, doubts were expressed by Cavan delegates at an Ulster CCC meeting over Antrim’s ability to host an Ulster Championship at the Whiterock Road ground, despite a new stand and terracing area being erected during the pandemic.

A vote to move the game to another venue was passed and then defeated at the second time of asking after Antrim officials privately insisted it was a case of Corrigan Park or nowhere – similar to Kildare’s famous mantra of Newbridge or nowhere in 2018 for a Championship match with Mayo.

The Belfast City Council has given the green light for Antrim GAA to level the ground behind the goal with Ulster Council officials due to inspect it tomorrow afternoon.