By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

ANTRIM have been left reeling by the announcement by team captain Sean Kelly that he did not wish to be part of their Tommy Murphy Cup campaign, as the fall-out from their disappointing Ulster Championship opener to Cavan last Sunday continues.

Kelly withdrew from the Antrim squad at their team meeting on Tuesday night, along with his St Gall's clubmates Aodhan Gallagher, Terry O'Neill and CJ McGourty.

Speaking to Gaelic Life, Kelly candidly revealed that he simply did not have the heart to compete in the Tommy Murphy Cup, and to do so as captain of Antrim would be doing a disservice to the team.

"Being captain, it looks bad on me I suppose but I expressed my reasons why. I told them the reason why was that my head and my heart weren't totally in it, and I couldn't go out as captain telling boys to go out and play that way when I wasn't totally focused on it. I would imagine that Jody (Gormley) would rather have a team of totally commited players going out in the competition."

Kelly was keen to stress that although it was four St Gall's players involved in the withdrawal from the squad, it was not a club decision and that each of the players made their own minds up as individuals.

"It wasn't about St Gall's, it wasn't a case of St Gall's looking after themselves. It was a decision that we all took as individuals, we hadn't sat down and discussed it. We made our own decisions and it just so happened that it was four St Gall's men. We all have our own reasons."

Last Sunday's defeat to Cavan was yet another bitter pill to be swallowed for all those involved with the Antrim side, and brought the curtain down on a hugely disappointing few months which saw their promotion aspirations also shattered. Had they gained promotion, they would have had a qualifier game to look forward to, and Kelly believes it would have been a very different Antrim camp this week.

"It's happened too many times to be honest. The league was actually more disappointing than the Cavan defeat, the championship just topped it all off. We were disappointed not to be promoted, because at least that would have been some sign of progress.

"If we'd had a back door game then it would have been different. I know my own attitude would have been different, although that's not a great thing for me to say, but I have to be honest."

The coming week could see further withdrawals with senior squad members set to step on board flights to the USA as the young Saffron stars are touted by clubs across the States keen to acquire their services for the summer. Under new rules, the only inter-county players allowed transfers to North American Board clubs are students, which opens the doors for a number of Antrim players, most notably Paddy Cunningham, who spent last summer lining out for Connemara Gaels in Boston. 'Hands' as he is known to his teammates is currently finishing up his teaching course in Jordanstown, so this could be his last opportunity to travel. Others for whom a trans-atlantic trip is an option include Justin Crozier from Queens, as well as Kevin Niblock who is a student at St Mary's.

Speculation was raised last week in the build-up to the game that at least one Antrim panellist already had his plans in place for the summer, but that was not in fact the case although a number of players are currently considering their options.