By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

BOTH Jody Gormley and Donal Keoghan declared their hands early this week, naming their teams for Sunday's Ulster Championship opener... or the teams for the programme at least.

There will no doubt be at least a few changes to the line-ups before the throw-in on Sunday as the managers aim to claim any small advantage for a game expected to be tight throughout.

The Cavan team announced on Wednesday night though looks set for more surgery than their opponents, with some notable changes to the Breffni team which has taken to the field in previous outings.

For example, the most notable absentee from the published team is Padraig Reilly, who it was announced would captain the side this weekend, and it is expected that he will be on the starting line-up by the time the ball is thrown in. Paul Brady, having returned to the fold following his handballing exile, is also said to be pushing hard for a starting role, or at least a good chunk of the game.

Elsewhere Barry Watters, who has played most prominently in the half-back line, is named as a wing-forward for Sunday, and he could well revert back to more familiar territory if Donal Keoghan reshuffles his pack.

Jody Gormley's team selection seems to be much more straightforward, with any changes expected to be positional ones within his chosen starting 15. How the Antrim boss will deal with Breffni dangerman Seanie Johnston is unclear, but he will have taken careful note that on the occasions he was double-marked throughout the National League that neither he or Cavan functioned effectively.

It's an attack-minded team that Gormley has elected to go with, which seems to indicate that his side are going to have a real go at it on Sunday and outgun Cavan in the scoring stakes.

The tactical tussle between the managers has already begun, and is expected to continue until the final whistle on Sunday evening to mark the end of a contest where even the slightest advantage or tactical move could prove to be the difference.

Antrim (SFC v Cavan): S McGreevy; K O'Boyle, A McClean, J Loughrey; T Scullion, J Crozier, S Kelly; A Gallagher, M McCann, P Close, K Niblock, T McCann; P Cunningham, CJ McGourty, C Close

Cavan (SF v Antrim): James O'Reilly; M Hannon, R Dunne, M Brides; D Sheridan, A Forde, M Cahill; M McDonald, D McCabe; M Reilly, R Flanagan, B Watters; C Mackey, S Johnston, Jason O'Reilly