Antrim football captain Kevin O'Boyle has 'full trust' in his team-mates and doesn't expect the return of axed pair Tony Scullion and Tomas McCann anytime soon.

The Saffrons preparations for their Ulster SFC clash with Monaghan at Casement Park on June 9 deviated off course slightly when Scullion and McCann were dropped from the panel following a row over attending an anniversary mass on the same day as their last Division 3 outing.

Earlier in the year, McCann's brother Michael had withdrawn from Frank Dawson's squad due to work commitments.

All three are Erin's Own clubmates of O'Boyle who insists it is now time to draw a line in the sand and move on.

"I think the panel that has been selected at this moment in time is going forward the way it is, and that doesn't include Tony, Tomas and Michael, for whatever reason," the captain said to The Irish News.

"Panels do chop and change, every team, every year. It's always happened and will continue to happen every year, due to players' decisions and due to managers' decisions. You have to respect that.

"As a panel, we'll go forward with that, and at this current moment in time we've got a strong group of players that are fully focussed on the task ahead."

He added: "Tony, Tomas and Michael are all great club-mates of mine. I've always played with them, throughout underage and up into senior level since I've been there with club and county.

"It may be strange going onto the pitch and not having them there, but at the same time I've full trust in the other boys and the rest of the panel that are with me." Tweet

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