Mixed bag for Antrim in McKenna Cup opener

Monaghan 1-20 Antrim 1-12

Bank of Ireland McKenna Cup

By John McIlwaine

Antrim’s opening game in the McKenna Cup ask as many questions as it answered as the Saffron’s blew hot and cold when losing out by eight points to Monaghan at St Tiernanagh’s Park, Clones. Lenny Herbinson’s charges started well, showing good attacking intent and went 0-5 to 0-3 clear at one stage in the opening half. However they developed an ultra-defensive shape for the remainder of the half, and at the start of the second, as Monaghan took control, coming from two points behind (0-3 to 0-5) to 1-12 to 0-6 in front ten minutes into the second, opening a gap that Antrim were never going to bridge. From playing a formation that was asking a lot of questions of the Monaghan rearguard, with Ryan Murray excelling up front, they then had all fifteen players inside their own 45 meter line, which gave the Monaghan forwards free rein to score with ease.

With Murray in terrific form Antrim matched the homes side in the opening exchanges and after the home team had opened a two point lead they hit back through Patrick McCormick, Ryan Murray and Ruairi McCann. Monaghan levelled the score at 0-3 apiece but a fines score from play by Ryan Murray and one from Colum Duffin had the Saffrons two clear by the end of the opening quarter. However they lost their way at this stage as Monaghan hit back with eight points on the trot, three of them from full-forward Jack McCarron, to go 0-11 to 0-5 ahead but just before the interval Murray broke the sequence with a pointed free to send his team in just five in arrears. (0-11 to 0-6)

Antrim manager Lenny Harbision would probably have been happy enough with his side’s first half efforts as he took the opportunity to introduce three subs at the start of the second half with Patrick McBride, Andrew Sweeney and-Declan Lynch coming into the action.

**Ryan Murray who scored six points in his team’s clash with Monaghan. Pic by John McIlwaine**

However it was Monaghan who pushed on at the restart with a point from Jack McCarron and a goal from James Mellaugh who powered through the middle t send a rasping shot past Paddy Nugent in the Antrim goal. When Ryan McAnespie followed with another point there were 10 between the sides and it looked as good as over but Antrim rallied and a palmed goal from centre-half-back Niall Delargy, set up by Matthew Fitzpatrick, breathed new life into the Saffron challenge. Ryan Murray pointed free to cut the gap to 1-16 to 1-8 before Antrim created another great goal chance, but as Connell Lemon bore down on goal his shot was brilliantly blocked by Monaghan defender Colm Lennon and the chance was gone. To their credit Antrim kept battling away but Monaghan had weathered the mini-storm and late points, one of them from goalkeeper Rory Beggan, saw them home with eight to spare.

**Monaghan’s Kieran Duffy in action against Antrim’s Niall Delargy. Pic by John McIlwaine**

ANTRIM: P Nugent; C Hamill, P Gallagher, M McCarry; D McCormack, O McKeown, P McCormack (0-1); M Sweeney, N Delargy (1-0); F Burke, P Finnegan, R Murray (0-6, 0-3fs); M Fitzpatrick, C Duffin (0-1), R McCann (0-1).

Subs: P McBride (0-2, 0-1f) for P McCormack (HT), D Lynch for D McCormack (HT), A Sweeney for Hamill (HT), C Lemon for McKeown (49mins), E McCabe (0-1) for Burke (58mins).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; K Duffy, F Kelly, C Lennon; John McCarron, F Connolly, B Kerr; J Mealiff; K O’Connell; J Walshe; M Brannigan, R McAnespie; D Freeman, Jack McCarron, B McGinn.

Subs: T Kerr for Kelly (49mins), G Dougan for O’Connell (49mins), C Boyle for John McCarron (49mins), C Walshe for Mealiff (55mins), V Corey for Kerry (55mins)

REFEREE: N Mooney (Cavan).