Ulster MFC Round 2
Antrim 0-6 Cavan 3-20
Antrim proved no match for a strong and talented Cavan in round 2 of the group stages of the Ulster MFC at Dunsilly on Saturday. The Saffrons produced an excellent comeback to draw with Armagh last week in round 1 but never looked like getting anything from Saturday’s game.
Their cause wasn’t helped when one of their best performers from last week, Niall Hynds was ruled out through injury and when they lost Se Ferris, midway through the opening half they were in serious trouble.
The visitors led 1-10 to 0-3 at the half way stage with their goal coming from full-forward, Ben O’Hara who contributed two first half points while Callum Gribben, JJ Higgins and a fisted effort from Shea Burns who looked to be in for a goal but settled for the point.
It didn’t get any better for the young Saffron side on the restart when Jamie Clarke palmed home their second goal after Antrim keeper Seanan Nagle, who was excellent throughout, had been drawn out and the big number 18 was left with a simple finish.
The visitors were adopting a high press and giving the home side no time to settle in possession, forcing a lot of turn overs and they were demonstrating why they had come so close to beating a fancied Tyrone in round one.
They continued to rack up their point tally with O’Hara, Joshua Shebu 0-3 and Dylan Edwards 0-2 on target before JJ Higgins opened the Saffron’s second half account from a free after Shea Burns was pulled down as he advanced on goal.
Antrim then suffered another blow when keeper Seanan Nagle was injured as he made a brave challenge and though the St. Enda’s man tried to continue he was eventually substituted by Daniel McCann but at this stage the opposition were out of sight.
Ben O’Hara put the icing on a fine personal performance with his second and Cavan’s third goal with three minutes remaining but to their credit Antrim kept plugging away against impossible odds and Cillian McEldowney kicked the game’s final point in injury time.
A tough lesson for a young Antrim team who can take some consolation from the fact that quite a number of them are under age next year but on the day they came up against a Cavan team who came back last week from being seven down to lose by a single point to Tyrone.
Antrim have one game to play in the group against Tyrone and face another difficult challenge but their management will already be looking to next year and hoping lessons can be learned from playing against such strong opponents.
Antrim: Senan Nagle, Daire Oglesby, Jack Harney, Sonny Doyle, Se Ferris, Cillian McEldowney, Ryan McKeever, Michael McKenna, Callum Gribbin, Patrick O’Neill, Dara Quinn, Colla Ward, JJ Higgins, Shea Burns, Fintan Close.
Subs: Ethan Walsh, Daniel McCann, James Blaney, Daire Higgins, Conor O’Connell, Shea McCann, Conor Johnston, Eoin Maginnis
