Relegation may not keep Antrim down

2006 Fixtures: Although Antrim were relegated from the Liam MacCarthy Cup competition this year they still hope to qualify for the top tier in 2006 by winning the Ulster hurling championship. This provision was included in the motion to Congress that altered the championship structure.

As a result, a preliminary quarter-final has been added to the 2006 GAA fixture list for Saturday, July 8th - when Antrim could play the Munster runners-up. Down have waived the right - if they become provincial champions - and will play in the Christy Ring Cup.

Antrim have intimated their desire to risk playing the single play-off game and therefore miss out on consistent championship hurling in the Christy Ring group stages.

A new Antrim executive was only voted in at the weekend, so there is still leeway for a change of tack - although new county board secretary Jim Murray confirmed their intentions.

"We'd have no problem with that option. Certainly, we'd be interested as ultimately the Liam MacCarthy Cup is where we want to play our hurling."

In theory, Antrim could win the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2006, but still not qualify for the competition in 2007.

Meanwhile, the guaranteed 13-day break introduced last year for the beaten provincial football finalists has been hindered by the GAA adjusting their fixture list due to the Ryder Cup, which takes place in the K Club from September 22nd to 24th.

The All-Ireland finals in football and hurling have been moved forward a week, but provincial championships dates are unaltered. If the Leinster or Connacht football finals on July 16th require a replay, the eventual runners-up will only have a week to prepare for round four of the qualifiers.

"We had no other option but to try and keep the sequence going," explained CGAC chairman Tony O'Keeffe.

"What we've done is just for one year due to the Ryder Cup. One of the difficulties for the provincial councils is the Leaving Certificate only finishes a week before the first provincial final. This makes it difficult to go back a week as more people would be caught in the net. We are looking at the whole exercise to try and improve it in the future."

The under-21 hurling final may cause problems, as it is a week before the senior hurling decider. And the Munster and Ulster football finals are on the same day as the World Cup final - July 9th - but the afternoon throw-ins will not clash with the 7pm kick-off from Berlin.