Experience Alone Won't Beat St John's - Mccormack

Experience of Ulster nine hurling last time whitethorn beryllium an advantage for Slaughtneil erstwhile they return connected St John's astatine nan Athletic Grounds connected Saturday (18:00 GMT), but head Paul McCormack insists they will request overmuch much to clasp their provincial crown.

The Derry champions are appearing successful their 10th last of their 13-in-a-row tally of region occurrence pinch a sixth Ulster title successful their sights.

Last year, they sewage their hands connected nan Four Seasons Cup for nan first clip since 2021 erstwhile coming done successful a thriller against Portaferry and they had to excavation heavy erstwhile again against nan Down nine successful this year's semi-final, winning 1-23 to 1-18.

There is simply a know-how of playing precocious successful nan twelvemonth for this group, a consequence of their desire to get backmost to nan All-Ireland shape pinch Galway's Loughrea awaiting nan victor of Saturday's Ulster decider, but McCormack is alert St John's will beryllium arsenic motivated having ended their 52-year hold for an Antrim title.

"That [experience] is an advantage we have, but St John's are coming fresh, quiet and eager to make their effect now," nan Keady autochthonal told BBC Sport NI.

"The Antrim title is very difficult won, truthful this is their clip and they will do each they tin to make that clip count.

"Our experience, will it tell? We'll spot connected Saturday evening. I would dream it would because our fellas are grounded, still quiet and person that desire, truthful they will request each those qualities to get done nan game."

Both teams person an abundance of imaginable match-winners Gerald Bradley's uncovering nan nett erstwhile introduced arsenic a substitute disconnected nan chair against Portaferry.

With nan activity of squad skipper Mark McGuigan, Brendan Rogers, Shane McGuigan, Cormac O'Doherty and nan returning Chrissy McKaigue, Slaughtneil airs a formidable challenge.

Their opponents are not lacking akin qualities pinch Conor Johnston's performances astatine centre-forward earning him nan Antrim nine hurler of nan twelvemonth award, but McCormack knows nan Belfast broadside person galore much threats.

"They person value passim their squad and are resilient men arsenic well," he added.

"We've a batch of fires to put retired up front, not conscionable Conor Johnston who you mightiness opportunity has nan champion wrists and hands successful Antrim, if not successful Ulster.

"You besides person Oisin MacManus and Shea Shannon up location - 3 value forwards who are scoring heavily, truthful we request to beryllium prepared to woody pinch those threats."