Antrim: Dunloy quartet exit hurling panel for 2024 season

Seaan Elliott and cousin and Dunloy club-mate Ryan Elliott will not feature for Antrim in 2024

The Antrim hurlers must plan for the 2024 season without Dunloy quartet Eoin O'Neill, Ryan Elliott, Seaan Elliott and Keelan Molloy, who will be unavailable to the county next year.

It is understood that O'Neill is in Australia while his three club-mates plan to travel in 2024.

It is another blow for Saffrons boss Darren Gleeson, who was already planning for the season without Neil McManus, who retired from county duty and Domhnall Nugent, who has opted out of the 2024 season.

According to the Irish News, Joe Maskey of St Enda's has also stepped back and will not play for Antrim in 2024.

With Molloy, Seaan Elliott and O'Neill all having featured in Gleeson's attack, it leaves the Tipperary native short of scoring firepower.

Ryan Elliott - Seaan's cousin - meanwhile, had established himself as Gleeson's first-choice goalkeeper.

Three of the four Dunloy players - Seean Elliott, Ryan Elliott and Molloy - featured in the club's run to the All-Ireland Club Hurling final at the start of 2023 before joining up with Antrim.

However, the Cuchullains failed to hit similar heights this season as they relinquished their grip on the Antrim title with a shock semi-final defeat by Loughgiel.

Antrim will play in Division One of the Allianz Hurling League and the Leinster Championship next season having retained their status in both competitions earlier this year.