Beaten finalists on penalties a year ago, defending All-Ireland champions Armagh will be aiming to go one better as they look to win their first Ulster title since 2008.
The Orchard County are firm favourites to overcome a struggling Antrim side in their opening fixture but it seems they will have to do so without forward Rian O’Neill.
Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney told reporters in January that the Crossmaglen man was “taking a few months to himself” and did not give a date for his return to the inter-county scene.
As well as the absence of O’Neill, Armagh have been without captain Aidan Forker, Jason Duffy, Connaire Mackin, Tiernan Kelly, Ben Crealey and Niall Grimley through stages of the league because of illness and injury, although there is hope all six will be fit to return for the Antrim game.
Despite missing so many key players, Armagh finished sixth in Division One, retaining their status in the top tier ahead of Tyrone on head-to-head record after three wins, three loses and a draw.
Darragh McMullen and Tomas McCormack have taken opportunities presented to them by the various injuries, alongside Belleek’s Callum O’Neill, who performed well in his first start in Armagh’s thumping victory against Derry.
