Littlewoods National League Division 2
Antrim 1-12 Galway 1-8
Saturday 19 February
A goal from Roisin McCormick in the last minute of normal time ensured Antrim maintained their 100% record in the national league, seeing off the challenge of Galway with four points to spare.
It was a gutsy performance from the Saffrons who had to see off a Galway purple-patch at the start of the second half but in truth they were worthy winners in the balance of play over the hour.
Galway took some time to find their feet on Saturday afternoon but in Tegan Canning, Kate Gilchrist and Sinead Coleman they had leaders and players who could potentially take the game away from Antrim but defensively, Antrim were well organised and tenacious. Delivering the ball with purpose and precision into their forward line. Chloe Drain and Niamh Donnelly impressing along with Caoimhe Conlon and Colleen Patterson, especially in the second half.
Lucia McNaughton and Nicole O’Neill dove-tailed well in midfield while five of the starting six forwards all got their name on the scoresheet.
Roisin McCormick top scored with 1-4 while the pace of Aine Magill and work rate of Siobhan McKillop meant there was always a threat in attack. The Saffrons were at times wasteful with a number of chances dropping short, seemingly sapping momentum at crucial times in the game but they had enough to ensure the league points didn’t travel out west.
Antrim started superbly and had a three point lead built by the eighth minute with Meadhbh Laverty, McCormick (free) and Caoimhe Wright finding the required accuracy. But for some last ditch defending by the Galway defence, the Saffrons could have scored the opening major of the game in that same time. Ciara Laverty denied when it looked for all the world the sliotar would nestle in the back of the net.
Galway got the score board ticking with a brace of scores coming through Laura Loughnane and Jennifer Hughes but they wouldn’t register another score for 16 minutes as Antrim turned their pressure into points on the board.
A brilliant score from Wright from an acute angle was followed by a McCormick free and a brace of points from McKillop, putting five between the sides and a score line that certainly didn’t flatter the Saffrons given the balance of play.
McKillop’s second point in the 27th minute was Antrim’s last score of the half however as Galway dragged their way back into the game thanks to a fortuitous goal. Tara Ruttledge with the finish but just how the sliotar dropped into the bottom corner beggars belief with Caitriona Graham’s positioning on the line unquestionable. A point from distance coming from the hurl of Katie Gilchrist soon after meant Antrim’s lead was reduced to just the minimum at the short whistle.
The visitors to Portglenone started the second half with more vigour and intensity, clearly a reaction to whatever was said at half time. They took the lead for the first time in the game after scores from Gilchrist (free) and Chloe Farragher while it took a piece of immensely courageous goal-keeping from Caitriona Graham to deny Ciara Reidy, the Antrim shot stopper putting her body on the line to deny the Galway forward from point blank range.
McCormick’s third white flag from placed ball in the fourth minute of the second half got Antrim off and running once more but a sharp point from Canning edge Galway ahead once more.
Antrim began to weather the Galway storm at that stage however with their half back line taking control. Scores from McKillop and Wright restored their lead by the 46th minute and one they wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the game.
Although guilty of squandering further chances to extend their lead, Antrim were denied their first goal with Fionna Ryan denying McCormick after the Antrim forward was played through by Aine Magill.
Chloe Farragher’s second point of the half gave Galway some respite from the Saffrons attacks but further scores from Magill and McCormick (free) made it a two point game going into the final five minutes of the hour.
McCormick and Gilchrist swapped frees before McCormick settled the game in the 60th minute. Collecting the sliotar after a break from Colleen Patterson, McCormick showed the Galway defence a clean pair of heals before squeezing the ball beyond Ryan in the Galway goals.
The referee added a further four minutes of injury time but the Saffrons saw out the time that remained with little alarm. The Saffrons next play in three weeks time and a trip to the midlands with Laois the hosts.
TEAMS
Antrim: Caitriona Graham; Chloe Drain, Niamh Donnelly, Laoise McKenna; Colleen Patterson, Caoimhe Conlon, Amy Boyle; Lucia McNaughton, Nicole O’Neill; Siobhan McKillop, Roisin McCormick, Aine Magill; Caoimhe Wright, Meadhbh Laverty
Subs: Maria Lynn for C Laverty (HT)
Scorers: R McCormick 1-4 (3f’s 1’45); C Wright 0-3; S McKillop 0-3; A Magill 0-1; M Laverty 0-1
Galway: Fiona Ryan; Caoimhe Starr, Sarah Lyons, Tara Lawerence; Katie Anna Porter, Sinead Coleman, Katie Manning; Caoimhe Reidy, Jennifer Hughes; Tegan Canning, Katie Gilchrist, Laura Loughnane; Ciara Reidy, Tara Rutledge, Chloe Farragher
Subs: Grainne O’Neill for C Reidy (43); Aisling Donnellan for T Lawerence (50); Elaine Dolphin for J Hughes (54)
Scorers: T Rutledge 1-00; C Farragher 0-2; K Gilchrist 0-2 (1f); T Canning 0-1; L Loughnane 0-1; J Hughes 0-1
Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)
