Antrim hurling legend Neil McManus has said that the county's footballers should park their threat to not play their Ulster SFC opener against All-Ireland champions Armagh if the game is moved from Corrigan Park.
Last week, long-serving Saffron footballer Paddy McBride had said that the squad had agreed that they would forfeit the fixture if the venue was changed from the 4,000 capacity Belfast ground.
However, in a statement to RTÉ Sport, Ulster GAA said that despite being first out in the draw, Antrim were not in a position to host the game with Casement Park’s redevelopment still in its embryonic stage.
"Corrigan Park does not meet the required health and safety standard to accommodate this fixture," the provincial council said.
"Ulster GAA met with Antrim GAA officials last month to review the situation in detail, and those discussions remain ongoing."
Speaking on Allianz League Sunday, McManus opted not to side with his county's footballers, citing attendance restriction as the key factor.
"I love Corrigan Park, I really like playing there. Whenever we made it our home as a county ground, it really stood to us and our performances there have been really good so I can fully understand why the Antrim county board, the Antrim football management, the Antrim football players all want to play it there
Regarding the staging of the Antrim-Armagh Ulster SFC clash, @Neilmcmanus88 is of the view that whatever the outcome is it would have to be something that does "facilitate as many fans as possible" #rtegaa
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) February 9, 2025
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"We have to come to a solution, we want as many people as we can to be able to watch the games. It’s only fair that Armagh fans and Antrim fans get to watch that game," the Cushendall man continued.
"How do we accommodate them in a ground that can only fit, three, three and a half thousand maybe?"
The Orchard County are understood to have maxed out their potential season ticket sales, which promises buyers a spot at their team’s championship games, with well over 3,000 signed up.
"How would you pick how many fans get to go and how many from Antrim and how many from Armagh?" McManus said.
"It could be a very tough situation for both counties to be in. Whatever the outcome is, it’ll have to be something that does facilitate as many fans as possible."
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