'Ulster tie should be at Corrigan but venue must be right'

Ulster GAA says Corrigan Park doesn't meet the necessary "health and safety standard" to host the provincial football championship clash between Antrim and All-Ireland champions Armagh on 12 April

Oisin McConville is hoping Antrim's scheduled Ulster SFC opener against All-Ireland champions Armagh will take place at Corrigan Park but says the venue "has to be right" for that to happen.

With Antrim having received a home draw for the fixture on 12 April, the Saffrons should be entitled to home advantage but Ulster GAA has said the west Belfast venue "does not meet the required health and safety standard".

In response to that, Antrim's players have vowed not to play the game if it is not staged at their current home ground.

Corrigan Park's capacity is just under 4,000 which would be nowhere near the number required to accommodate the hordes of Armagh fans keen to see the defending All-Ireland champions in action.

However, Ulster GAA's statement last week suggested that the health and safety issues were the sticking point rather than the venue's capacity.

Speaking on The GAA Social on BBC Sounds, 2002 Armagh All-Ireland winner McConville believes both the Antrim players and Ulster GAA could be in danger of giving themselves little room for manoeuvre in the stand-off.

"If you come out and you get a home draw, it should be played there. I am a firm believer in that," said McConville

"But there seem to be a few hoops to jump through to make those things happen. I don't know if Antrim were aware of those hoops.

"If Antrim can turn round whatever the barriers are to having it there [over the next couple of months], that sounds the best solution to having it there. Again I think it's very difficult for the Ulster Council because of the guidelines, the health and safety whatever it is….to back down.

"With the way the Antrim players have come out and talked about it, it's really difficult for them to show weakness or back down at this stage."

McConville says the issue will not be of concern to the Armagh players.

"I don't think they care where they play the game. I've played a game in Corrigan Park….the pitch is 100%. It's perfect."