Antrim eye historic hurling title
Antrim manager Kevin Ryan has named an unchanged team for the county's historic first All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship final appearance against Clare tomorrow evening.
Ryan has kept faith with the side that shocked Wexford into submission at the semi-final stage as the young Saffrons became the first Ulster outfit to qualify for an All-Ireland decider at this age-grade.
Wing back Ciaran Johnston sat out training this week with a knee injury but is rated fit enough to start, while Chris McGuinness - an absentee for the Wexford game as he was required by Rossa for a club football Championship game - is included on the bench for the Semple Stadium tie (throw-in 5pm).
Ryan's charges are rank outsiders against Clare, the defending champions, but have a few promising players including the likes of team captain Jackson McGreevy, Ciaran Clarke, Stephen McAfee, Matthew Donnelly and McGuinness, who have all appeared for the Antrim senior side.
Previewing the trip to Thurles, full-back Donnelly told BBC Northern Ireland: "It's a big shock to the system that we're in an All-Ireland final.
"We played against Clare last year...and to be honest, I think they were probably one of the best teams I've ever played against in my hurling career.
"So it'll be a good experience to get out there and just get going and see what happens.
"There's maybe 12, 13 players on the (Clare) senior squad. As I said, we played against them last year and they were just unbelievable, they're so powerful, so strong, fast, can catch the ball, anything."
Donnelly also played down Antrim's frustration at the final being held down in Thurles at a stadium that Clare are very familiar with.
Manager Ryan dubbed the decision 'a total disgrace' and even suggested boycotting the game unless the GAA changed the venue to a more suitable destination - the Antrim players and fans are facing a 500-mile round trip for the second time in three weeks.
"(Semple Stadium) is the home of hurling, so it is...where else would you rather play? It's going to be a great experience, first All-Ireland final Antrim's got to and where else to play it than the home of hurling?", added Donnelly.
ANTRIM (U21HC v Clare): Ger Dixon; Conal Morgan, Matthew Donnelly, Tiernan Coyle; Tomas O'Ciarain, Paddy McNaughton, Ciaran Johnston; Jackson McGreevy, Eoghan Campbell; Shane Dooey, Stephen McAfee, Niall McKenna; Daniel McKernan, Conor McCann, Ciaran Clarke.
