All-Ireland SHC Relegation Final Antrim v LaoisAntrim have been boosted by the news that Saturday's All-Ireland hurling relegation final against Laois has been switched from Thurles to Navan by the fixtures committee.
The Meath venue is far more accessible to Antrim supporters and takes several hours off their travel plans.
The game was initially scheduled for Thurles to coincide with the Tommy Murphy Cup football match between Antrim and Tipperary. This has since been postponed.
Laois officials requested either Parnell Park in Dublin or Birr but both venues are unavailable. The match now takes place before the two Christy Ring promotion semi-finals, also scheduled for Páirc Tailteann on Saturday.
Portlaoise hosts its own tripleheader in O'Moore Park on the same day, including the All-Ireland junior football final and Cork versus Sligo qualifier, so many Laois County Board officials will be unable to travel.
"It would be unrealistic for Antrim to go to Thurles when there was no longer a secondary match," admitted Laois manager Paudie Butler.
"I've been to Navan and it is a grand field, so we'll just have to get on with it."
Having already overcome the Ulster champions on July 9th, in Casement Park, after defeats to Limerick and Galway, Butler's team secured the second last place in their qualifier group.
However, defeat to Dublin last Saturday evening has condemned Laois to a do-or-die relegation battle with the Ulster champions.
"We wanted it finished in Belfast and a lot of people around the country thought it was over," said Butler. "We knew it wasn't as we had been briefed but we went into the Dublin match missing six players. Dublin were able to field David Curtin without naming him and it is players of that calibre that can turn a contest."
The main concern is the well being of dual player Darren Rooney who damaged his foot in the Leinster football final defeat to Dublin. Paddy Mullally and Joe Fitzpatrick are already out while Joe Phelan is on holidays.
Since losing 0-21 to 1-16 three weeks ago, the Antrim panel has changed significantly as Brian McFall led the return of players who became disillusioned under Dinny Cahill.
Laois also had their request to move the Bank Holiday Monday All-Ireland minor quarter-final against Kerry out of the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick denied.
This was the venue for last year's mass brawl involving Laois and Cork minor teams and officials, and there was a fear over a repeat of the lack of stewarding evident on that occasion.
Meanwhile, the problems in Ulster hurling look to be deepening after Antrim collected their first under-21 provincial title in three years without pucking a ball. They received a walkover in their final game in Casement Park last night because Derry were unable to field a team.
With the Derry football championships in full swing, the hurling panel failed to muster enough players to form a team. Last week manager Seán McCloskey barely managed to field a side at home in Ballinascreen against Down.
Derry lost by 5-9 to 1-8, which was not surprising considering five minutes before throw-in just 13 players were present.
