Dunloy players to feature in Doran's Antrim squad

Doran says promotion from Division Four is the number one objective for 2026

Newly-appointed Antrim football manager Mark Doran says he is "pretty confident" of Dunloy representation on his 2026 panel, but those involved with the county's hurlers are unlikely to make the big-ball switch for 2025.

Speaking at Friday's Antrim GAA Club All-Stars, Doran said he expects Deaglan Smith to be part of the panel, but others including Keelan Molloy and Seaan Elliott - who was named Antrim Club Footballer of the Year on Friday - will likely remain with Davy Fitzgerald's hurlers.

Both Elliott and Molloy were key figures in Dunloy's first senior county football success in 89 years year and are just some of a host of dual stars in the club.

While Doran predicts "we will see them in a football jersey some day", he will plan without those with current hurling commitments for now.

"The Keelans and Seaans, we've had a good conversation with the boys the last couple of weeks," the Longstone native said.

"They're going to play for Antrim but unfortunately it's going to be the hurling at the minute, but I couldn't say a bad word about the two boys and I would still be very confident that we'll have a few Dunloy boys on the panel coming into the National League.

"Deaglan Smith's is a boy on my radar and he's just trying to sort a few wee work issues out and hopefully we'll be pretty clear where he's at.

"The boys I have mentioned like Keelan and Seaann, you may not see them in an Antrim football jersey this year, but I've no doubt you will see them in a football jersey some day."

'Antrim my primary focus despite club rumours'

Doran has been impressed by the reaction of players within the county since assuming the reins, confirming 87 of the 90 players he has spoken to have shown an interest in attending trials.

Out of last year's squad, Conor Stewart has gone travelling, while Dermot McAleese announced his retirement, but Doran insists the Portglenone man is "too good to be retired as an inter-county footballer" and he will see if he can prompt a change of heart.

He will have the benefit of the return of the Dr McKenna Cup in early January to run his eye over those who do make the cut in competitive action, but the focus is the National League opener against Carlow on 24 January with promotion from Division Four a key objective for his first year.

"Our most important game is Carlow in the first game of the league, because if we don't get a good start in that, we're under massive pressure," he accepts.

"It is a dogfight, but I know from my time in Clare for two years with Colm Collins, Clare came from the fourth division and end up in the second division and stayed there.

"With 10 senior clubs, they maxed out; every player committed to each other.

"That is the challenge for us as a management team: getting a squad that will commit to this thing for three or four years and then once you do that, we'll see where it takes us."

Doran also addressed rumours he is set to double up with a club job next year.

In 2025, he formed part of Davy Burke's coaching ticket in Roscommon before returning to manage Slaughtneil's footballers, but insists Antrim is his sole priority for now.

"Two weeks ago, I was going back to Slaughtneil, then I was going to Burren the week before that and now it's Clann Eireann.

"There have been clubs on, but Antrim is my number one thing and until Antrim is finished, I won't be getting involved in any other club."