Bord Na Mona Walsh Cup 2018
Meath corner forward Neil Heffernan scores his team’s winning point
Meath …… 1-17
Antrim ……. 0-19
Report and pics by John McIlwaine
When Neill McManus hit a great point from play with just three minutes of normal time left for play Antrim looked to be on course for a hard fought win over Meath in Saturday’s opening game of the Walsh Cup at Trim. McManus’s excellent score gave the experimental Saffrons and 0-18 to 1-14 advantage but the home side hit back with a series of points from frees to edge back in front and though McManus brought his side level again three minutes into injury time a late score from play by Meath’s Neil Heffernan’s gave his team victory.
With the breeze behind them in the first half Antrim were slow to start and the home side went two ahead and it was seven minutes before Antrim got on the scoresheet with a point from play by Conor McCann. Neill McManus pointed a free from distance to level matters and the full forward put his side ahead with a great strike, this time from well inside his own half before Dan McCloskey set up Eoin O’Neill for a top class score, the Dunloy man sending over a real beauty from out on the wing. Antrim appeared to be taking control of the match when Conor Johnston showed good control to pull his team 0-9 to 0-4 ahead but just when it appeared they were getting on top Meath hit back with two quick point, and an excellent goal from right half forward James Kelly in the 26th minute. From then until the half time break it was nip and tuck as both sides exchanged points but Antrim edged ahead when McManus pointed in the final minute only to be clawed back in injury time from a pointed free from the accurate Meath half back Jack Reagan.
Antrim got a bit of a break when the wind all but died during the half time interval but it was Meath who edged ahead nonetheless as Reagan’s free taking ability saw them go three clear on sixty minutes. McManus, who had moved out to midfield at the start of the second half, was having much more of an influence on the game and after adding two more points from frees a great grounds stroke up the middle sent Conor Johnston clear for the levelling point on 63 minutes. It was end to end during the closing minutes and when Antrim went ahead on 67 it appeared they might hold on, but Meath’s late scoring burst got them over the line, Heffernan’s excellent late point giving them victory by the narrowest of margins.
Not the ideal start for Antrim but it was a useful workout for this experimental side. The games continue to come thick and fast now as they take on Tyrone on Tuesday night at the Dub in the QUB tournament before travelling to Parnell Park to face Dublin on Sunday 7th January. Meath who have former Kilkenny legends Martin Comerford and Michael Kavanagh in their backroom team, take on the Dubs at Abbotstown on Wednesday night.
Meath – Shane McGann; Sean Geraghty, Damien Healy, Niall Weir; Eoin Marsh, Keith Keoghan, Jack Regan (0-7 fs); James Toher (0-2), Colm O Mealoid; James Kelly (C) (1-3), Anthony Forde, Cathal McCabe (0-1); Sean Quigley, Adam Gannon, Neil Heffernan (0-4). Subs used – Joe Keena, Jack Walsh, Michael Cullen, Shane Brennan.
Antrim – Ryan Elliott; Conor Boyd, Aaron Laffan, Stephen Rooney; Gerard Walsh, Paddy Burke, David Kearney; Conor McKinley (0-1) N McAuley; Conor McCann (0-2), Conor Johnson (0-2), Nigel Elliott; Eoin O’Neill (0-3), Neil McManus (0-10 , 8fs) Daniel McCluskey (0-1). Subs used – Joe Maskey, Deaglan Murphy, Conor Carson.
Referee – Alfie Devine (Westmeath)