Ex-Cavan attacker Rory Gallagher has backed Antrim to spring a shock over some of his former team mates this Saturday and progress to this year's Ulster SFC final against Tyrone. The Belleek native had a brief stint with the Breffni County in 2007, while also lining out in a few games for the Crosserlough club, but after Donal Keogan's side exited the All-Ireland qualifiers at he hands of Mayo he returned to St Brigid's in Dublin. "Although Cavan will go in as slight favourites, I have a fancy for the boys from Antrim," Gallagher wrote in his column on the BBC's website. The former Fermanagh sharpshooter believes that Liam Bradley's men hold an advantage over their opponents in that they have a supply of strong club players, while he thinks some of Tommy Carr's options "lack experience". "I'm plumping for Antrim simply on the basis that they have a core of ten or 11 players from two very good club sides, St Gall's and Cargin," he explained. "These players are used to playing together and have more experience of playing in big highlight games than many of the Cavan counterparts. "Of the Cavan team that started the last time out, only two were supplied by Cavan Gaels who are the dominant team in the county. "Cavan have a number of new players and many players who lack experience at both county and senior club level, so nerves could be a big factor here." Gallagher himself had made a return to Fermanagh at the end of last year before again opting out of Malachy O'Rourke's panel before this year's National Football League got underway in February. The 31-year-old still holds the record for the largest scoring tally in a single Ulster Senior Football Championship match, in which he scored 3-9 against Monaghan for the Ernesiders back in 2002. Tweet

Most Read Stories