THE Antrim senior footballers will boycott the Ulster GAA’s provincial championship media launch on Monday evening unless Corrigan Park is announced as the venue for next month’s Ulster Championship clash with Armagh.
Antrim’s move will exert more diplomatic pressure on the Ulster Council.
Antrim won’t field against defending All-Ireland champions Armagh on April 12 if the game is not hosted by Corrigan Park in west Belfast.
The Antrim panel’s intentions have been backed by the Gaelic Players Association.
The Ulster Championship draw was made last October with Antrim coming out of the hat first.
After several meetings between Ulster and Antrim officials, conducted since mid-January, it was decided by the provincial body to play the game at Páirc Esler in Newry.
Health & safety concerns around Corrigan were cited by Ulster.
Corrigan Park holds a modest 4,000 which would mean many Armagh fans will not get a ticket and the Ulster Council’s revenue would be badly hit.
The Ulster Council would feel there could be at least double that figure at Páirc Esler.
However, Antrim have consistently argued on sporting fairness for the game to go ahead at their chosen venue.
An Antrim official said: “Unless Corrigan Park is confirmed, Antrim won’t have representation at the Ulster Championship launch on Monday night. This includes photo shoots and interviews.”
Corrigan Park received a £1m face-lift during COVID where a 600-seated stand was built, and it has been fit to host county finals and inter-county hurling games.
Antrim also played host to Cavan at Corrigan Park in the Ulster Championship in 2022.
The Antrim footballers’ stance is as much to do with the failure to rebuild Casement Park after it was closed in 2013.
Following the removal of the pre-season tournaments, the Ulster Council lost significant revenue and hoped to recoup some of it during this season’s Ulster Championship.
Their annual media launch is one of the key calendar dates in the province where the Men’s and Ladies Championships are celebrated.
Players and coaches from each of the nine Ulster counties are always represented at the event, which takes place at the Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh on Monday evening.