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Andy McEntee confirms it's 'Corrigan or nowhere' in Ulster stand-off

Antrim manager Andy McEntee reiterated his side's position that they will not be playing their provincial championship opener against Armagh in Newry following last night's decision of the Ulster Council.

Ulster GAA confirmed the long-touted decision to fix the Antrim-Armagh game for Páirc Esler, a decision prompted by the limited capacity in Corrigan Park and the desire to cater for the large volume of Armagh season ticket holders.

Immediately upon hearing the decision, Antrim GAA released a statement saying that Corrigan Park was the appropriate venue for the game, with the players insisting they would not fulfil the fixture if they are denied home advantage. The GPA subsequently issued a statement in support of the Antrim players.

Speaking to RTÉ Gaelic Games correspondent Marty Morrissey this afternoon, Antrim boss McEntee emphasised that nothing had changed.

"It's a bit disappointing. We've made our position very clear from the outset. Nothing has changed. We really would like to move on from this. We won't be changing our mind.

"We were training last night. We were out on the pitch when word came through of this.

"If that's the final decision, it (the game) won't take place."

The stand-off has echoes of the 2018 dispute between Kildare and the GAA, when the association fixed their do-or-die qualifier game against Mayo for Croke Park, despite Cian O'Neill's side being drawn out of the hat first.

After a raging controversy in which Kildare threatened a boycott of the fixture, the GAA blinked, with the game ultimately played in St Conleth's Park - subsequently going into folklore as the 'Newbridge or Nowhere' saga.

It was put to McEntee that this situation was a case of 'Corrigan or Nowhere'.

"That would appear to be the case," the manager responded.

"It's straightforward. We were drawn out of the hat first, we have home advantage. It's not our fault that season tickets were sold subsequent to the draw being made.

"It's straightforward. It's always been straightforward. The team that gets drawn out first gets home advantage.

"Antrim footballers have been looked at as second class citizens for long enough. It's time to make a stand. That's what the players are doing and I support them, 100%."

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