Manager Frank Fitzsimons admits Antrim have been working on shoring up their defence.

Antrim conceded three goals in each of their championship outings last year and Fitzsimons is seeking an improvement at the back as they prepare to renew acquaintances with Fermanagh on Sunday:

"It was a very open game last year, gung-ho football and one of those games that could have gone either way," the Saffrons boss told The Belfast Telegraph. "Now, you have to come up with a defensive set-up and a plan. We have been working on that.

"The three goals scored against us would have been a worry and the three that Donegal got after that, and Limerick in the qualifiers. So we are trying to work on stopping goal opportunities.

"If it happens, it happens. You saw Tyrone setting up defensively against Donegal and then there were times that Donegal were free inside. It takes a lot of work and patience."

Antrim go into this weekend's game as underdogs but Fitzsimons takes some encouragement from Cavan's battling display against Monaghan last Sunday: "I think at this time of the year, the league goes out the window. You do draw a bit of inspiration from Cavan," he adds.

"Probably on another day, Cavan might have won the game. A lot of people were saying that the experience of Monaghan pulled them through in the end, especially the experience of some players coming off the bench."

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