Nugent to start in goal on Antrim return
Nugent is a former outfield player with Antrim
- Published
Domhnall Nugent is set to make his Antrim return as goalkeeper for Saturday's National Hurling League Division 1B clash with Wexford at Wexford Park [16:00 GMT].
The St John's clubman represented the Saffrons as an outfield player from 2020 until 2023, but an accumulation of injuries curtailed his playing ability.
He returned for his club in 2025, reinvented as a goalkeeper and his performances throughout the Johnnies' Antrim champinship-winning campaign earned him a call-up to Davy Fitzgerald's squad with Ryan Elliott no longer part of the panel.
Nugent has been given the nod to start against the Slaneysiders, with his St John's clubmate Ryan McNulty set for his senior inter-county debut in a new-look full-back line that also contains Dunloy's Eoin McFerran and Loughgiel's Ruairi McCormick.
Emerging star Sean McKay is flanked by the experienced Gerard Walsh and Joe Maskey in the half-back line, while in attack Tir na nOg's Sean Duffin and Loughgiel's Jack McCloskey are also make their senior bows with Conal Cunning back after missing the 2025 campaign due to an ACL injury.
Antrim: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Eoin McFerran, Ruairi McCormick; Gerard Walsh, SeanMcKay, Joe Maskey; Ryan McCambridge, Eoin O'Neill; Scott Walsh, Paul Boyle, SeanDuffin; Joseph McLaughlin, Jack McCloskey, Conal Cunning.
Subs: Cormac McFadden, Stephen Rooney, Paddy Burke, Kealan McCann, Ben McGarry, Cormac McKeown, Seaan Elliott, Conor Johnston, James McNaughton, Ruairi Donaghy, Morgan Nelson.
Down name team for Carlow clash
Down manager Ronan Sheehan has also named his team for their 1B opener away to Carlow on Saturday at Dr Cullen Park [14:30 GMT].
Portaferry's Pearce Smyth starts in goal behind a settled defensive group which includes Caolan Taggart who forms part of a half-back line alongside Liam Savage and Ruairi McCrickard.
Eoghan Sands starts at centre-forward, with the full-forward line containing brothers Eoin and Shea Pucci alongside Pearse Og McCrickard.
Down: Pearce Smyth; Conor Cassidy, Matt Conlon, Niall McFarland; Caolan Taggart, Liam Savage, Ruairi McCrickard; Donal Hughes, Ben Teggart; Barry Trainor, Eoghan Sands, Ronan Beatty; Eoin Pucci, Shea Pucci, Pearse Og McCrickard.
