An opening day win over Limerick at Mick Neville Park last Sunday gave Antrim the perfect start to their Allianz NFL Division 3 campaign and Andy McEntee’s side have an opportunity to build on that win and make it two from two when Offaly visit Corrigan Park this Sunday.
Antrim should treat the visitors with the ultimate respect however and the Saffron manager will recall the last visit of the Faithful County to the Whiterock Road when the Leinster side recorded a six point win.
That win flattered Offaly however with Antrim cutting the gap to three late in the game and unfortunate not to conjure an equaliser when a Patrick Finnegan goal attempt was cleared of the line.
Antrim were caught pressing forward in the later stages and Offaly countered from defence with Bernard Allen beating Mick Byrne in a race for the ball from a long clearance to finish to the net.
Antrim’s late rally not enough to deny Offaly
Antrim 0-12-2-12 Offaly
January 29th 2023
Allianz National Football League Division 3
A below-par opening half display cost Antrim
dearly as they fell to a 2-12-0-12 defeat to Offaly in their National League
Division 3 opener at Corrigan Park this afternoon.
Ruairi McNamee capitalised on a spill and netted Offaly’s first half goal that helped them to a 1-08-0-04 lead at the shortwhistle.
Antrim rallied in the final quarter with fiveunanswered scores leaving just a goal between the sides in added time. Back-to-back converted frees from Dylan Hyland made it six-unanswered for the visitors. Antrim ended the half with two points, both coming from frees courtesy of Ryan Murray and Dominic McEnhill-but at the break they had a mountain to climb, trailing 1-08-0-04.
Goal scorer Ruairi McNamee extended his sides lead two minutes after the restart and Pat Shivers responded with an excellent point to open his account for the afternoon. Further points were traded between Anton Sullivan and Ryan Murray (free). On 43 minutes the Saffrons were denied a goal after a sweeping move forward saw the Ruairi McCann with a golden chance, but Ian Duffy made a terrific block.
A second converted Nigel Dunne free had Offaly 1-11-0-06 up on the 48th minute and things were relatively comfortable for the Faithful County.
A second converted Nigel Dunne free had Offaly 1-11-0-06 up on the 48th minute and things were relatively comfortable for the Faithful County.Creggan’s Ruairi McCann appeared to have cut
the deficit with an effort that appeared to have crept over, but the umpire
waved it wide to the disbelief of the majority inside Corrigan Park.
Aghagallon’s McCann would begin a run of five unanswered points after a great build-up with his Creggan namesake and Ryan Murray followed that up with his third converted free.Murray was denied his fourth as his free from range dropped short and Aghagallon’s McCann fisted over.The hosts were finding more joy and after Declan Lynch and Marc Jordan combined, Jordan laid the ball through to James McAuley to shoot high between the posts.
A goal would have really set-up a grandstand finish, but Antrim were twice denied in the closing stages. First when the ball was worked to substitute Odhran Eastwood- though Ian Duffy made a brave save at his near post.Ruairi McCann then rose to contest a high ball with Duffy on the edge of the small square and came out on top.The ball was worked across to Patrick Finnegan for a tap-in, but Rory Egan somehow scrambled the ball off the line and prevented a certain goal.
Paddy McBride would drop a shot over the bar in the aftermath to leave a goal separating the sides with five minutes of injury-time remaining. Andy McEntee’s charges had the momentum but were caught out at the other end as Bernard Allen raced onto a loose ball ahead of Mick Byrne and lifted the ball over the Antrim keeper and to the net to give Offaly a 2-11-0-11 lead.Conor Stewart would conjure up Antrim’s final score of proceedings, however the visitors finished the contests scoring through a nice Anton Sullivan point to ensure they would run out two goal
winners at the conclusion.
Antrim: M Byrne, P Healy, D Lynch, J McAuley (0-01), D McAleese, J Finnegan, M Jordan, J Dowling, C Stewart (0-01), P McBride (0-01), R Murray (0-03f), C Duffin, P Shivers (0-01), R McCann (0-02), D McEnhill (0-02, 0-01f). Subs: R McCann (0-02) for D McEnhill (HT), K Small for J Dowling (HT), P Finnegan for C Duffin (49), O Eastwood for R McCann 58), P Mervyn for J Finnegan (65).
Offaly: I Duffy, C Donohoe, D Hogan, D Dempsey, R Egan, P Cunningham (0-01), L Pearson, J McEvoy, C McNamee, J Maher (0-01), R McNamee (1-01), S O’Toole-Greene, N Dunne (0-02f), A Sullivan (0-03), D Hyland (0-04, 0-02f). Subs: B Allen (1-00) for S O’Toole-Greene (HT), C Farrell for N Dunne (48), L Egan for J Maher (63), J Bryant for D Hyland (70+2), A Brazil for C Donohoe (70+3).
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
