Littlewoods Division Four League

Wicklow 1-17 Antrim 5-8

Antrim travelled to Arklow for their final Division Four League game against Wicklow and manager Gavin Curran took the opportunity to try out positional and personnel changes from the teams that fielded against Tyrone and Cavan.

Antrim started stronger with three unanswered scores before Wicklow took advantage of a defensive mistake for Kasey Byrne to nip in for a goal. 

Antrim’s new midfield pairing of Enya McShane & Caitlin Heggarty then took over and Wicklow counteracted by dropping back a sweeper. 

In defence Siantelle Boyd put in a very strong performance in a first start for the Saffrons, while Fionnghuala Rocks recovered from a shaky start to lead by example, with Orla Donnelly faultless for the goal and in control from then on. Rebecca Stewart also worked hard at corner back.

Up front Orlagh O’Neill’s direct running drew the sweeper out of position, allowing corner forward Fionnuala Kelly to do damage on the score-board.

Antrim led at half-time by 2-7 to 1-8 with goals from Riana McBride and Fionnuala Kelly. Kelly, whose older sister Maeve hit four points in the Division Two win over Derry, bagged a second half goal as well as two points. Orlagh Laverty scored the third goal at the start of the second half, but it was the last goal from Eimear Byrne that made the real difference and gave this team their first victory.

They now look forward to the Premier Junior championship in late July, with seven weeks’ of hard work needed to compete at this level. 

Antrim scorers : Fionnuala Kelly 2-2, Orlagh Laverty 1-2, Eimear Byrne 1-1, Riana McBride 1-1, Orlagh O’Neill 0-3.

Wicklow: Kasey Byrne 1-1, Laura Manley 0-12, Katie Tyrrell 0-2, Jessica Mai Maxwell 0-2.