‘Tosh’ late goal gave Antrim victory over Galway

Antrim’s wins over Galway have been few and far between over the years but 18 years ago this week the Saffrons shocked the Tribesmen in the National Hurling League Division 1B game at Casement Park. Antrim held the upper hand for most of the game, but trailed by two at half time. They got back on top again during the second half but once more Galway rallied to take a two point lead with time almost up Johnny ‘Tosh’ proved the hero of the hour when he cut in from the left wing and fired a rasping shot to the Galway net.

The goal would cap a great day for Antrim GAA for as the teams were leaving the field it was announced over the PA that St Gall’s had just beaten Nemo Rangers in the All Ireland Senior Club semi-final in Portlaoise. Not a bad double.

Incidentally in this report of the Galway game, which featured in the Irish Times on Feb 20th 2006, descibed McIntosh as….. the big Armoy man!!! Obviously they thought the goal was so good only Clute could have scored it!

**Conor Cunning in action for Antrim against Galway. If things go to plan there will be another C Cunning from Dunloy facing Galway again on Sunday.**

National Hurling League Division 1B

Antrim 1-14 Galway 0-16

National Hurling League Division One B/ Antrim 1-14 Galway 0-16: A late goal by Johnny McIntosh gave Antrim an unexpected victory over Galway at Casement Park yesterday.

It was a 70th-minute solo effort by the big Armoy man who cut in from the left wing to slam the ball home from close range. He had already sent over seven points, six of them from frees, to emerge the hero of the day.

Antrim hustled and harried their opponents throughout with the defence holding firm and had it not been for a series of wides – nine – in the second half, the winners would have wrapped up victory much earlier.

The hurling wasn’t out of the top drawer but total commitment was the order of the day by the Antrim players who snuffed out their more illustrious opponents in many instances. Goalkeeper Damien Quinn also pulled off two remarkable saves.

***Team managers Paul McKillen and Jingo McKernan who guided Antrim to the famous win over Galway***

Antrim breezed into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes but Ger Farragher put over a free seven minutes later to level, following points by Niall Healy and Eugene Cloonan.

Had it not been for the accuracy of Farragher from placed balls – he hit a total of 10 – the winners would have been out of sight well before the final whistle. They were level again on the half-hour and once more three minutes later but points by Kevin Broderick and Farragher sent Galway in leading by 0-9 to 0-7 at the interval.

A blazing restart by Antrim pegged Galway in their own half for nearly 20 minutes as the home side tagged on five unanswered points to go three ahead. Farragher grabbed three frees to balance the scales again but Galway could never establish authority.

The fast and furious action was level at 13 and 14 points before Cloonan scored his second point in a minute to give the visitors a 0-15 to 0-14 lead with six minutes left. Farragher pointed his 10th free but when Cloonan sliced through for what seemed a certain goal on 67 minutes Quinn dashed out to bring off an amazing stop.

Then right on time, McIntosh produced the winning blast that stunned Galway.

**Dunloy’s Paddy Richmond who scored 0-3 on the day**

ANTRIM: D Quinn; B McAuley, M McCambridge, G Cunningham; J Campbell, K McKeegan, C Herron; C Cunning (0-1), M Herron; C Hamill, B Delargy, M Scullion (0-1); S Óg McFadden (0-2), P Richmond (0-3), J McIntosh (1-7, 0-6 frees). Subs: B McFall for Hamill (half-time), B Quinn for Scullion (53 mins), M Dallas for McFadden (61 mins), J Scullion for Cunning (66 mins).

GALWAY: L Donohue; D Joyce, T Óg Regan, G Mahon; D Hayes, C Dervan, S Kavanagh; F Healy (0-1), D Collins; G Farragher (0-10, 0-9 frees, 0-1 ’65), R Murray, K Broderick (0-1); N Healy (0-1), E Cloonan (0-3), D Donohue. Subs: K Daly for D Donohue (50 mins), A Coen for Murray (59 mins), MJ Quinn for Hayes (61 mins).