THIS year’s Ulster Championship clash between Antrim and All-Ireland champions Armagh will not be played at Corrigan Park despite the Saffrons being drawn at home.
It is understood Antrim and Ulster Council officials met last week where it was decided the Antrim footballers would forfeit home advantage because the west Belfast venue was deemed too small and could not meet the demand for tickets.
The only balm offered to Antrim officials was selecting any other suitable venue in Ulster to play the game, scheduled for the weekend of April 12/13.
Pairc Esler in Newry has been mooted as an alternative venue and possibly Owenbeg in Derry.
As the news of ‘anywhere but Corrigan Park’ filters through Antrim, it is likely to come as a major disappointment to the Antrim management team, players and supporters.
Last October, Antrim player Marc Jordan said that their glamour tie with the Orchard County should be staged at Corrigan Park with Antrim having been drawn out of the hat first.
“A home draw is a home draw,” said the Lamh Dhearg clubman.
“We were away last year as well and we were in Armagh the year before.
“Any sort of advantage we get, we need to take it. We need to dig our heels in unless the powers that be say we need to take it somewhere else. I think we should be doing everything we can to get the game at Corrigan Park.”
Three months on, the Ulster Council has grasped the nettle and explained to an Antrim delegation that their Championship game with the All-Ireland champions needs a bigger capacity to meet the demands of supporters, particularly Armagh season ticketholders.
The decision is in stark contrast to Antrim’s staunch resistance to moving the Ulster Championship match with Cavan away from Corrigan Park in 2022.
Back then, the Antrim County Board dug their heels in and before long the rallying cry among Antrim Gaels was ‘Corrigan Park or Nowhere’ – a slogan reminiscent of the time Kildare insisted on ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ when the Lilywhites were asked to move their 2018 Championship game with Mayo to Croke Park and refused.
Antrim ended up hosting Cavan at Corrigan Park with the capacity capped at 3,700.
As the Allianz Leagues are set to get underway, there are over 3,000 Armagh season ticketholders. Had their Championship game with Antrim been staged at Corrigan Park it would have prompted an almighty scramble for tickets and left many disappointed.
The popular west Belfast venue received a facelift during COVID with a 600-seater stand installed. There were terracing plans for the opposite side of the ground, but no start date has been mooted.
The home of St John’s GAC, the Whiterock Road ground has become Antrim’s choice of venue due to the closure of Casement Park in 2013, with still no sign of the stadium being rebuilt.
The Ulster Council, understandably, wants to satisfy the demand for tickets especially a Championship game involving the All-Ireland champions.
The provincial body has already lost a “significant revenue source” when the plug was pulled on the McKenna Cup and other pre-season competitions.
In his annual report, secretary Brian McAvoy lamented the Council’s reduced programme delivery due to the loss of revenue generated by the McKenna Cup gates.
“Provincial Councils lost out on a significant revenue source and had the unenviable task of explaining to sponsors how competitions could be removed at a whim,” wrote McAvoy.
“Ultimately, clubs and young people lost out due to a reduction in both grants and programme delivery due to the associated revenue loss. One can but hope that the pre-season competitions will be restored to their rightful place in 2026.”
Antrim host Clare at Corrigan Park on Sunday (1pm) in their opening Allianz NFL Division Three opener.
