Antrim lose duo for qualifiers
The Antrim hurling management will have to plan for the upcoming game against Clare and the remainder of the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers without two of their panel's most experienced players.
Dunloy duo Malachy Molloy and Paddy Richmond will both be unavailable for the Saffrons' qualifier campaign.
Half-back Molloy broke his hand in a recent club league game and is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks, while according to an Antrim GAA statement, powerful forward Richmond, who helped the county to the Christy Ring Cup title last year, is not able to "fully commit himself to the heavy training schedule" because of his upcoming marriage.
Both Molloy and Richmond were included in the 2006 Christy Ring Cup Champion 15 team, along with fellow Saffron Ciaran Herron.
Co-managed by Terence McNaughton and Dominic McKinley, Antrim open their qualifier account at home to Clare on June 30. Casement Park is also the venue for their July 7 clash with Laois, before the Saffrons face a trip to Galway a week later.
Meanwhile, Antrim's senior footballers look set to be without the services of Paddy Cunningham and CJ McGourty for the upcoming Tommy Murphy Cup tournament.
The two forwards are to spend the remainder of the summer in America, following Antrim's exit from the Ulster senior championship at the hands of Derry last Sunday.
