DOWN MEMORY LANE
All Ireland Hurling Championship Round 2 2011
Antrim 1-13 Carlow 2-9
Another day out in Championship 2011 with the Saffrons entering this encounter on the back of a nine-point win over Westmeath last weekend.
Carlow, on the other hand, had not seen action since their Leinster Championship defeat to Westmeath on 22 May.
With the Ulster side at home, the odds favoured their progression to Phase III, and a chance to have a cut at some of the bigger fish.
In 2010, Antrim shocked Dublin to set up an All-Ireland quarter-final date with Cork.
Reaching the last eight again would be another huge achievement for Dinny Cahill’s side.
Against Westmeath the previous week the northerners were always in control, with Neil McManus again their scorer in chief, helped by Conor McCann’s early goals.
Carlow, with home advantage, were expected to get their Leinster campaign off to a winning start on home soil, but they gave away three soft goals against a Westmeath outfit, who had just come off a pointless campaign in the League.
The performance by Kevin Ryan’s side on the day was well below par and the manager would have a huge job in getting his charges motivated for the trip north.
Nine points from Neil McManus were the difference between Antrim and their opponents in this encounter. The sides were level at 0-9 apiece at the break and while the score line remained
Relatively close throughout the second period, the Saffrons had just enough between McManus and his colleagues to stay ahead.
