Leinster Hurling Walsh Cup, Group A
Antrim 1-17 Galway 1-23
Antrim wrapped up their Walsh Cup campaign on Saturday at the Louth Centre of Excellence at Darvar where they faced Galway in game three, and though beaten by six points in the end the Antrim management will take plenty of positives out of the game.
Once again Darren Gleeson rang the changes and introduced no less that eleven subs during the game and will go into the opening game of the league against Kilkenny in two weeks’ time in a better frame of mind than he was a week ago, following their defeat to Offaly.
The Saffrons got away to a good start this time out and Keelan Molloy had them ahead inside fifteen seconds as her race through and split the uprights, but Galway responded well and hit back with two without reply through Tom Monaghan and Gavin Lee.
With Neill McManus again showing well Antrim responded and four on the trot from McMcManus (2), Seaan Elliott , Keelan Molloy and James McNaughton and it could have been even better had it not been for a brilliant point blank save by the Galway goalkeeper from the McManus goal bound shot.
Antrim opened up a 0-5 to 0-3 lead coming near the end of the opening quarter, but Henry Shefflin’s new charges responded well and drew level at 0-6 apiece by the first water break.
There were worrying signs when Galway started the second quarter impressively, but to their credit Antrim hit back and some excellent scores from Seaan Elliott and James McNaughton and with Elliott really catching the eye they closed the gap to 0-10 to 0-11 just minutes before half time, though Galway again finished strongly and two without reply brought them three clear at the short whistle. (0-13 to 0-10)
Galway extended their lead early in the second half but two on the trot from James McNaughton frees kept the Saffrons in touch. A goal on 44 minutes by Galway’s Conor Wheelan put a bit of daylight between the sides but Antrim hit back with a cracking goal of their own. Seaan Elliott cut in from the right wing and found Eoin O’Neill in space. O’Neill fired in a rasping shot which Murphy in the Galway goal did well to parry, but as the ball rebounded Michael Bradley reacted brilliantly to turn the ball home and close the gap to four again.
Still four in arrears entering the final quarter Antrim fell further behind as Caulfield and Mannion pointed for the Tribesmen. The gap was out to eight nearing the end but Antrim finished strongly with points from Ciaran Clarke and the St John’s duo of Conor Johnston and Conal Bohill to finish just six in arrears at the end.
ANTRIM: R Elliott; A Crawford, G Walsh, D Kearney; P Burke (0-1), E Campbell, J Maskey; D McKernan, K Molloy (0-2); N McManus (0-2, 1 65), E O’Neill (0-1), M Bradley (1-1); S Elliott (0-3), C McCann, J McNaughton (0-4, 3 frees).
Subs: N O’Connor for D Kearney (29), S Rooney for A Crawford (64), S Walsh for M Bradley (63), R McCambridge for P Burke (67), D Murphy for S Elliott (67), C Johnston (0-1) for C McCann (HT), C Clarke (0-1 free) for J McNaughton (52), C Cunning for E O’Neill (52), A Bradley for N McManus (67), C Bohill (0-1) for D McKernan (58)
GALWAY: E Murphy; D Cronin, D Burke, J Grealish; T Killeen, P Mannion (0-1 65), M Gill (0-1); Joseph Cooney (0-1), C Caufield (0-2); C Mannion (0-5, 3 frees, 1 65), N Burke (0-1), T Monaghan (0-3); C Whelan, J Fleming (1-3), G Lee (0-1).
Subs: J Coen for C Caulfield (50), J Hastings (0-2) for N Burke (52), G Thomas (0-2) for J Fleming (58), S Ryan for M Gill (59), C Killeen for C Mannion (67), D Nevin for G Lee (69), John Cooney for T Killeen (69), S Loftus for Joseph Cooney (70+2), D Kilcommins (0-1) for T Monaghan (70+2)
REFEREE: Kevin Brady (Louth)
