Referee J McGrath (Westmeath) Important in the context of silverware and local bragging rights, not so important in bigpicture terms. Whatever the outcome here, Antrim will be competing . . . 'challenging' is, alas, not really the apposite word . . . for the McCarthy Cup, whereas Down, sensibly, intend to punch their weight in the Ring. The inconvenient bit is that Antrim are too good for the latter but not yet quite good enough to hold their own in the blue-riband grade. Were they a soccer player they'd be yer man who plays in the hole.

On league form there can only be one winner. Check out some of Down's losing margins:

3-25 to Clare, 4-18 to Offaly, 427 to Waterford and 3-31 to Wexford.

Antrim, aiming for a sixth title on the trot, were untroubled by London in the Ulster semi-final but make four changes today, with Simon McCrory and Paddy McGill, both of them fine minors under Sambo McNaughton and Woody McKinley in recent years, coming in for their championship debuts up front.

Down at least have had the advantage of a second outing against Derry, whom they hit for five goals last night week, three of them scored by Gareth Johnston, who scored 3-5.

No fewer than 17 points separated the sides in last year's provincial semi-final.

Expect Down to be considerably closer this afternoon. Not close enough, though.

Verdict Antrim ANTRIM R McGarry; M Kettle, M McCambridge, S Delargy; M Molloy, J Campbell, C Herron; B Herron, K McKeegan; P McGill, N McManus, M Herron; S McCrory, J McIntosh, P Shields DOWN G Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, F Conway; G Clarke, A Dynes, M Ennis; A Savage, B McGourty; P Coulter, K Courtney, J Treanor; E Clarke, G Johnston, E Treanor