All-Ireland SFC qualifiers: Antrim and Derry begin with away matches

Antrim and Derry begin their respective All-Ireland qualifier campaigns on Saturday as both counties seek long-awaited Championship victories.

The Saffrons are unchanged for their trip to Louth after their nine-point quarter-final defeat against Tyrone.

Derry make three changes from their promising display against the Red Hands for their away game against Wexford.

Ruairi Mooney, Emmett Bradley and Benny Heron replace Sean Francis Quinn, Paul McNeill and Liam McGoldrick.

Mooney is named at left half-back as Niall Keenan switches to corner-back.

Bradley and Heron are named in the half-forwards as Padraig Cassidy moves from midfield to attack and Jason Rock is shifted to right half-back.

Antrim have not tasted Championship success since 2015 while Derry's last summer win came in the 2017 qualifiers.

On their way to clinching promotion to Division Three, the Oak Leafers came out on top of a seven-goal battle against Wexford in March but Damian McErlain has been warning that the Slaneysiders will be fired up with a large crowd of home fans expected to attend a double-header which sees the home county facing Carlow in the Leinster Hurling Championship.

However, Derry defender Brendan Rogers admits the Oak Leafers could have been presented with a more difficult task in their opening qualifier.

"It's not a bad draw considering the Division One teams that are in the qualifiers. It's definitely a game to look forward to," conceded the Derry full-back.

"We played them in the league and it was a very high-scoring affair so we know that they can attack and get good scores. So that's something that we'll have to focus on if we're to get through to the next round."

Derry are also seeking to build on an encouraging performance during their Ulster preliminary-round defeat by a heavily-favoured Tyrone side.

The Oak Leafers have not won a provincial match since 2015 but the performances of the likes of Padraig Cassidy, Shane McGuigan and Enda Lynn at Healy Park have given rise to cautious optimism within the panel.

"In years gone by there's been really good league and championship performances that never equated to much come the All-Ireland campaign," Rogers added.

"We know as well as anyone that you really need to get over the first couple of games to have a feel-good factor about your season.

"We're hoping that the work that we've put in since the Tyrone game will stand to us in the qualifiers and will help us produce a good performance."

Antrim's second-half rally in their Ulster quarter-final exit to Tyrone has given their beleaguered supporters some hope of a championship victory on Saturday.

Manager Lenny Harbinson has kept faith with the side that started against the Red Hands with goalscorers Patrick McCormick and James McAuley among the players to impress.

The Saffrons, who are facing another season in Division Four next year, will be going up against a Louth side that finished just a point outside the promotion places in Division Three and beat Wexford by four points in Leinster before a heavy 26-point defeat by Dublin in their provincial quarter-final.

Antrim's last championship victory was in the first round of the 2015 qualifiers when they upset Laois at O'Moore Park.

Antrim: P Nugent; P McCormick, R Johnston, P Gallagher; P McBride, D Lynch, N Delargy; C Duffin, S Beatty; J McAuley, M Fitzpatrick, K Quinn; R Murray, J Smith, E Walsh.

Subs: A Hasson, M McCarry, J Dowling, R McNulty, J Mallon, C Mallon, R Scott, C Murray, P Branagan, F Burke.

Derry: T Mallon; K McKaigue, B Rogers, N Keenan; J Rocks, C McKaigue (capt), R Mooney; C McAtamney, C McFaul; E Bradley, B Heron, P Cassidy; S McGuigan, R Bell, E Lynn.

Subs: B McKinless, C Bradley, F Concannon, P Coney, C Doherty, J Doherty, R Dougan, S Downey, C Mulholland, F McGill, SF Quinn.