Allianz Hurling League Division 1
Kilkenny 2-15 Antrim 3-9
Despite hitting the net three times in the opening game of their Hurling League Division 1B campaign Antrim fell to a three-point defeat to Kilkenny at Nowlan Park today.
Ther Saffrons gave as good as they got over the hour and were level with their hosts at the break at 1-6 apiece with Seaan Elliott’s finding the net for the visitors and Martin Keoghan hitting the Kilkenny’s goal.
Keoghan scored his second as Kilkenny made the better start to the second half but Antrim kept battling away and were rewarded with goals of their own from Conor Johnston and Neil McManus to keep in touch
McManus goal threatened an Antrim come-back and closed the gap to two points but Kilkenny finished with the game’s final point from John Donnelly after the visitors were reduced to 14 men following the dismissal of Niall O’Connor.
Kilkenny would have been glad to hear the final whistle however and had Darren Brennan to thank after the goalkeeper made a crucial injury-time save from Domhnall Nugent that would have levelled the contest.
Scorers
Antrim: N McManus 1-2 (0-1 free), S Elliott 1-1, C Johnston 1-0, C Clarke 0-3 (all frees), K Molloy 0-1, E Campbell 0-1, D McKernan 0-1
Kilkenny: M Keoghan 2-2, J Donnelly 0-4 (3 frees), J Bergin 0-3 (2 frees), P Walsh 0-2, P Deegan 0-1, H Lawlor 0-1, T Phelan 0-1, W Walsh 0-1
KILKENNY: Darren Brennan; Mikey Butler, Conor Delaney, Tommy Walsh; James Maher, Huw Lawlor, David Blanchfield; Mikey Carey, Paddy Deegan; John Donnelly, Padraig Walsh, Tom Phelan; Billy Ryan, Martin Keoghan, James Bergin
Subs: Ciaran Wallace for Conor Delaney (23), Conor Heary for James Maher (HT), Walter Walsh for James Bergin (HT), Chris Bolger for Billy Ryan (54)
ANTRIM: Ryan Elliott; Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh, Stephen Rooney; Paddy Burke, Eoghan Campbell, Joe Maskey; James McNaughton, Keelan Molloy; Niall McKenna, Ciaran Clarke, Conal Cunning; Seaan Elliott, Neil McManus, Conor Johnston
Subs: Daniel McKernan for James McNaughton (50), Eoin O’Neill for Ciaran Clarke (50), Scott Walsh for Paddy Burke (57), Ryan McCambridge for Keelan Molloy (67), Domhnall Nugent for Niall McKenna (67).
REFEREE: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)
A full report and more photographs from today’s game will be published later on this site