Liam Bradley has ruled CJ McGourty of his championship plans on the grounds that he isn't fit enough to play inter-county football at the moment.

The tricky forward missed all of Antrim's Allianz Football League campaign after breaking his leg while playing for UUJ in a Dr McKenna Cup match against Derry in January, and while he recently returned to club action with St. Gall's, Bradley feels he has too much ground to make up in terms of getting himself fit for the Ulster championship.

"CJ McGourty is not part of our plans. The lad is only back training with his club. As far as we would be concerned, he wouldn't be capable of playing county football at the minute," the Antrim manager said in the Irish News.

Despite notching up 11-69 in seven Allianz League games, Bradley believes the scores won't come as easily for the Saffrons against Monaghan in their Ulster SFC quarter-final at Clones on May 27.

"There is no doubt that whenever we are in full flight and playing well that we are capable of opening up defences and scoring goals. But there is a difference between the teams you meet in Division 3 and the Monaghan team we will meet in the championship," he said.

"We would be happy with what we scored during the league. It's an improvement on where we were at this time last year because we are not as reliant on Paddy Cunningham as we once were. I think we have improved on that aspect, but there is a difference between league football and the first round of the championship." Tweet

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