By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

THIS Sunday, Antrim and Cavan will run out onto Casement Park, and you can guarantee that the atmosphere will be considerably more tense than the championship launch was on Tuesday morning.

Platitudes were wheeled out, the air was a cautious one. Never before had there been so much respect for the opponents in one room. The watching of words was very much the order of the day, no one willing to make even the slightest slip or to make a comment which their opponents could use against them. The last thing anyone wanted was to risk their quotes being pinned up on the opposition dressing room wall.

Players were pushed into corners with dozens of dictaphones under their noses, every word being captured on tape as they went through the sort of grilling not seen since the Good Friday Agreement. They posed for endless photos, flashes going off like paparazzi all around them as they joked one minute, game face on the next.

For once, the ladies outnumbered the men as they made the most of the inaugral joint championship launch. The girls threw a few admiring glances at their male counterparts, commenting on their physical conditioning and how intense their training had obviously been... or at least I think that's how they put it. When the time for photos came, it was noticable that Antrim sharpshooter Paddy Cunningham opted to put the jersey on over his t-shirt, while experienced campaigner and Derry captain Kevin McCloy had no qualms about going topless as he donned his National League Final number three shirt. Derry men hold no fear... of either getting their torso out or of the air conditioning, it would seem.

For the record, if you listened to all that was said, then Antrim are going to be a tough game for Cavan, Cavan are going to be a tough game for Antrim, Jody says Antrim won't win the All-Ireland but they could win Connacht, and all is rosy in the garden for the Ulster Council and the new sponsors. All pretty run-of-the-mill stuff really.

The best line of the day though came far away from the glaze of the cameras and the scrutiny of the media, in the dining room downstairs. The assembled masses were just polishing off their plates when the elusive Kevin McCloy appeared through the doors.

"Late again then Kevin?" quipped one official.

"Aye, sure aren't I always? Sure my shoulder is always late!" the Derry defender replied, razor-sharp and making those who heard it almost choke with laughter on their pasta.