Day of reckoning for Derry. After a couple of years together, gradually homing in on an Ulster title, Derry have now reached the stage where a breakthrough is there for the taking. Recent championships have seen the team improving and a season in Division One will have brought them on further.

There are snags, however, with suspension keeping out Geoffrey McGonigle and Emmett McKeever. McGonigle's scoring record is a big loss and McKeever's absence is doubly unfortunate, with Antrim's main suit being their menacing full-forward line where Ally Elliott has returned none the worse for injury to rejoin Gregory O'Kane and Aidan Delargy.

"The plan has to be to get ball into the full forwards so the Antrim midfield has to dominate to make sure they get good service," says former Antrim manager Seamus Elliott. "I was surprised that Gary O'Kane was named at centre forward. I think he's better in the half backs. Malachy Molloy is from my own club (Dunloy) and he played particularly well at centre half back against London but I'd prefer Gary further back."

The problem for Antrim in establishing a hold at centrefield is the return from injury of Derry's Oliver Collins, the county's outstanding hurler. In his absence last year, Derry were competitive up until the last 10 minutes when Antrim killed them off.

This time it may be different. The presence of inexperienced newcomers and the lack of the sort of cohesion which Derry enjoy make Antrim vulnerable. This is make-or-break for the challengers and they can deliver.