Antrim footballer Paddy McBride has stated that the Saffrons will not participate in their Ulster Championship quarter-final against Armagh unless granted home advantage at Corrigan Park. The team is facing a potential venue switch due to the anticipated high number of Armagh season ticket holders, which may exceed Corrigan Park's capacity.
Antrim footballer Paddy McBride has declared that the Saffrons will refuse to participate in their Ulster Championship quarter-final against All-Ireland champions Armagh unless granted home advantage at Corrigan Park . The provincial draw was conducted back in early October, pairing Antrim with Kieran McGeeney's Sam Maguire Cup winners.
While this typically signifies home advantage for the first-drawn team, a logistical hurdle has emerged due to the GAA's guarantee of Championship seats for any season ticket holders. It's believed that Armagh's season ticket holder base surpasses Corrigan Park's capacity, even before factoring in any home fans.'We're being told as usual that we're going somewhere else,' McBride shared with BBC Sport NI, amidst speculation that the match might be moved to Celtic Park or Newry, given that Casement Park is still years away from completion. Corrigan Park holds 3,700 spectators and last hosted an Ulster Championship game in 2022. A Cavan motion to relocate the game was initially supported but later reversed, with the Breffnimen claiming a 1-20 to 0-10 victory over Antrim. Prior to that, the venue hosted an Ulster Championship match in 2013. 'It sounds so simple - you have a home match you play at home. We spoke as players already,' McBride added. 'We said we sacrifice too much to lie down. If it's not going to be where it's meant to be, then we'll not play it. It's one we all agreed with. It wasn't deliberated on, it wasn't debated, we just said this is what we're standing for and we're sticking with it.'Antrim manager Andy McEntee has echoed his players' stance, dismissing the season ticket argument. 'It's irrelevant how many season tickets were sold to the opposition,' stated McEntee. 'That's not our issue. The draw was made on the 12 October. All season tickets weren't sold before the 12 October. So everybody knew that we had home advantage. I don't see a problem.' Regardless of the venue, McEntee's team faces a formidable challenge against the Orchard County. Prior to their second All-Ireland title win earlier this summer, Armagh secured promotion back to Division One and have comfortably defeated Antrim in their last two Championship encounters. In 2021, they triumphed 4-15 to 0-14 over Antrim, while a nine-point margin separated the teams in 2023. Both Ulster SFC ties were played at the Box-It Athletic Grounds
Antrim Armagh GAA Ulster Championship Paddy Mcbride Andy Mcentee Corrigan Park
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