McDonagh Cup Final
Antrim 5-22 Kerry 4-24
Saturday 4th June
Brendan McTaggart reports from Croke Park, Dublin
Relief? Ecstasy? Joy? It’s hard to quite put into words the wave of emotions that came across us all at Croke Park as Antrim edged Kerry in a ding-dong battle to claim the McDonagh Cup for the second time in their history.
One point separated the sides at the end of the 70 minutes when it looked like Antrim would win comfortably by half time. Then, the Saffrons held a ten point lead and looked to have seen off a mini-Kerry revival but the Kingdom were relentless in the second half, led superbly by substitute Jordan Conway and Mikey Boyle in defence.
Ultimately it was the Saffrons ability to create and execute their goal chances. Five in total, two for Ciaran Clarke, while James McNaughton, Seaan Elliott and man of the match Conal Cunning. Coby would finish the game with 1-12 to his name in an excellent performance that was probably more notable for his defensive work in a second half where it was all hands on deck for those in an Antrim shirt. Keelan Molloy playing in his own full back line also while Seaan Elliott made a couple of huge defensive plays at the death that could have been the difference on that day.
Antrim rarely looked like they could lose this one and the changes made in the second half all had the desired impact. Niall McKenna, Daniel McKernan and Eoin O’Neill all chipping in with crucial scores but credit where it’s due to a Kerry side who showed incredible desire and never-say-die spirit, ultimately however, they ran out of time.
In a first half where Antrim largely dominated, the Saffrons made great use of the spaces in Croke Park and left Kerry chasing shadows. Kerry couldn’t handle the slick movement and incisive passing of the saffrons in an opening half that saw Antrim take a 12 point lead after just 21 minutes, thanks largely to goals from Ciaran Clarke (5) and James McNaughton (10).
The Kingdom rallied and kept Antrim quiet for a ten minute period that saw them outscore 1-4 to 0-2, their goal coming from a Podge Boyle penalty in the 26th minute. Boyle would finish the half with 1-6 beside his name, his penalty finding the postage stamp at the Davin Stand goals.
They threatened another major moments with Podge Boyle’s effort flashing wide after cutting inside and finding space. With Ryan Elliott’s goal at his mercy, he fired wide.
Antrim responded however found their game once again in the closing stages of the half. Conal Cunning ninth point of the half, seventh from place ball preceded a fine McManus point before Seaan Elliott scored their third goal. Clarke with the vision to find Keelan Molloy in space and the Saffrons midfielder headed for goal. His shot was low but saved by Louis Dee in the Kerry goals only for the sliotar to fall to Elliott who made no mistake.
Coby Cunning and Daniel Collins swapped scores in first half injury time to leave Antrim with a 10 point lead at the interval, Antrim 3-14 Kerry 1-10.
Both sides made great starts to the second half and Antrim’s lead was reduced to eight when Conal Cunning scored the Saffrons fourth major. Gerard Walsh sending the sliotar long where McManus deflected the ball into the path of Cunning. The Dunloy man read the flight of the sliotar perfectly, collected and made no mistake.
The Saffrons seemed to go more direct with their play as the second half progressed. McManus on the edge of the square and later Domhnall Nugent as target men but the Kerry defence looked to have their number and two goals in the space of four minutes at the other end of the pitch has the hearts racing for those clad in Saffron. Jordan Conway proving to be a thorn in the Antrim defence with his trickery, movement and expert finishing.
The Saffrons were given a lifeline when Paudie O’Connor was black carded for an illegal challenge on McManus with the Cushendall man bearing down on goal. Clarke expertly dispatched the penalty in the 60thminute to put five between the sides but Antrim would only score four further points in the 10 minutes of normal time and six of added on by referee Sean Stack.
Kerry poured forward and all the momentum going their way in the closing stages. They looked like carving open the Antrim defence for the major that would bring them back to parity while Domhnall Nugent looked to have a goal disallowed harshly for a square ball infringement.
Podge Boyle scored Kerry’s fourth goal of the game in the 76th minute, taking his own tally to 2-12 for the game but it was the last action of the final as Antrim held on to claim the honours.
The Saffrons certainly gave everything they had and at the end of the contest there was more than a few tired bodies on the Croke Park turf. The celebrations will come and go quickly however as they look forward to welcoming Cork to Corrigan Park next weekend in the All-Ireland qualifiers.
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; David Kearney, Gerard Walsh, Paddy Burke; Joe Maskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; Michael Bradley, Keelan Molloy; James McNaughton, Neil McManus, Ciaran Clarke; Conal Cunning, Conor McCann, Seaan Elliott
Subs: Daniel McKernan for C Bohill (50); Domhnall Nugent for C McCann (53); Niall McKenna for J McNaughton (62); Conor Johnston for C Clarke (64); Eoin O’Neill for N McManus (69)
Scorers: Conal Cunning 1-12; Ciaran Clarke 2-2 (1-00 pen); James McNaughton 1-1; Seaan Elliott 1-00; Neil McManus 0-2; Keelan Molloy 0-2; Niall McKenna 0-1; Daniel McKernan 0-1; Eoin O’Neill 0-1
Kerry: Louis Dee; Conor O’Keefe, Eoin Ross, Eric Leen; Sean Weir, Fionan Mackessy, Mikey Boyle; Michael Leana, Podge Boyle; Colin Walsh, Colum Harty, Paudie O’Connor; Gavin Dooley, Daniel Collins, Shane Conway
Subs: Jordan Conway for C Harty (25); Maurice O’Connor for G Dooley (45); Niall Mulcachy for C Walsh (49); Brian Lonergan for D Collins (63)
Scorers: P Boyle 2-12; Jordan Conway 2-1; Daniel Collins 0-3; Shane Conway 0-2; Fionan Mackessy 0-2; Gavin Dooley 0-1; Michael Leana 0-1; Maurice O’Connor 0-1; Paudie O’Connor 0-1
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)
