Antrim v Cavan

ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Casement Park. Date: Sunday, 18 May. Throw-in: 1545 BST.
Coverage: Live: BBC NI, Radio Ulster MW and on the BBC NI website

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CJ McGourty is named at full-forward for the Saffrons

Fit-again duo Michael McCann and CJ McGourty have both been included in the Antrim team for Sunday's Ulster SFC opener against Cavan at Casement Park.

With Joe Quinn ruled out by injury, McCann will partner Aodhan Gallagher in midfield while McGourty is named in a youthful looking attack.

Sean McGreevy gets the goalkeeping nod ahead of John Finucane.

Cavan will be without injured Darren Rabbitte but Nicholas Walsh and Anthony Forde are available for the Breffnimen.

Rabbitte only returned to action recently following a cruciate ligament injury but he suffered cartilage damage in a recent challenge win over Meath.

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The Breffni County are also expected to be without injured Ray Cullivan while Finbar O'Reilly is another fitness doubt.

While Rabbitte has suffered a further setback, Cavan's medical staff are confident that the player will be available for the county's next championship game after the Antrim clash.

Veteran McCabe is expected to start at midfield in Belfast while the Breffni County will be hoping that Seanie Johnston can maintain the fine form that he showed during the National League.

Cavan suffered relegation from Division 2 in the league but they did claim a victory over last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists Cork.

In addition, Cavan lost several tight games - including a one-point defeat by Armagh.

We beat Meath in a challenge game recently and we played fairly well so we'll reasonably optimistic Cavan PRO Mark Gillick

"The only game that we were well-beaten in was the Monaghan match," Cavan PRO Mark Gillick told BBC Sport Interactive.

"But we know that the game in Belfast is a potential banana skin so we won't be taking them lightly at all.

"We beat Meath in a challenge game recently and we played fairly well so we'll reasonably optimistic."

Johnston will be joined in the squad for the Casement Park clash by Martin Cahill and Paul Brady.

All three infuriated manager Donal Keoghan last summer when they opted to head to the US to play club football instead of remaining with the squad during the All-Ireland qualifiers.

At the time, Keoghan vowed never to pick any of the three players again but all three are now back in contention.

"Donal was very disappointed at the time but Cavan needs to have every footballer available and Donal was big enough to go back on what he said to the media last summer and take them back for the good of the county."

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Antrim: 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.