Antrim footballer Paddy McBride insists the Saffrons 'will not play' their Ulster Championship quarter-final against All-Ireland champions Armagh if they are not granted home advantage at Corrigan Park.

The provincial draw was made way back in early October and Antrim were drawn out first against Kieran McGeeney's Sam Maguire Cup winners.

While that normally means home advantage, the problem is the GAA's guarantee of Championship seats for any season ticket holders. The number of season ticket holders in Armagh is believed to exceed the capacity of Corrigan Park, before any home fans are even factored in.

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"We're being told as usual that we're going somewhere else," McBride told BBC Sport NI, amid speculation over a switch to Celtic Park or Newry with Casement Park still years away from completion.

Corrigan Park’s capacity is 3,700 and they last hosted an Ulster Championship game at the venue in 2022 when a Cavan motion to play the game elsewhere was passed before being reversed with the Breffnimen claiming a 1-20 to 0-10 win over the Saffrons. Before that, it was 2013.

"It sounds so simple - you have a home match you play at home. We spoke as players already," he added.

"We said we sacrifice too much to lie down. If it's not going to be where it's meant to be, then we'll not play it.

"It's one we all agreed with. It wasn't deliberated on, it wasn't debated, we just said this is what we're standing for and we're sticking with it."

Antrim manager Andy McEntee has backed his players and rubbished the season ticket argument.

"It's irrelevant how many season tickets were sold to the opposition," said McEntee. "That's not our issue.

"The draw was made on the 12 October. All season tickets weren't sold before the 12 October. So everybody knew that we had home advantage. I don't see a problem."

Regardless of where the game is played, Andy McEntee’s men will have a mammoth task on their hands when they take on the Orchard County.

Prior to winning their second All-Ireland title earlier this summer, Armagh had sealed their return to Division One have have won their last two Championship meetings against Antrim with something to spare.

In 2021, they claimed a 4-15 to 0-14 win over Antrim while nine points separated the sides in 2023 with both Ulster SFC ties being played at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.

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