Following a second successive defeat Antrim will hope to get back to winning ways when high flying Westmeath visit Corrigan Park on Sunday. The men from the midlands made it four from four last day out as they beat Offaly 0-14 to 1-8 in Mullingar while Antrim lost to Sligo at Markievicz Park.
Westmeath last visited Corrigan back on the 22nd March 2022 and recorded a four point win over Enda McGinley’s Saffrons while Antrim suffered their heaviest defeat of the season away to Sunday’s opponents in 2023.
Here is the report published on the Saffron Gael from the 2022 game.
Allianz National Football League Division Three
Antrim 0-12-1-13 Westmeath – March 22nd 2022
Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park
Antrim’s hopes of promotion were fading fast- long before a second half collapse saw their five-point lead diminish in the space of two minutes as they fell to a 1-13-0-12 defeat to Westmeath at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon.
Truth be told, it required a lot for the Saffrons to claim a top-two spot with a win at Corrigan not enough- they needed Fermanagh to overcome Limerick in addition.
In control early on, a black-card issued to Tomas McCann briefly halted the hosts in their tracks, but McGinley’s men regrouped and put themselves in the position to keep up their end of the final day bargain.
Things were still going well for the Saffrons until their five-point lead disappeared in the blink of an eye, as John Heslin thumped home a penalty and two-points quickly followed.
Westmeath had the momentum thereafter and made the most of it, outscoring Antrim 1-06-0-02 in the final twenty minutes to leave Corrigan Park with a win- that looked unlikely for the majority of the afternoons proceedings.
Enda McGinley made a raft of personal changes from last weekends defeat to Louth as Mick Byrne, Declan Lynch, Pat Shivers and James McAuley all came into the starting fifteen.
Antrim were first off the mark in Corrigan Park after Conor Murray held onto the ball and kicked a fantastic score.
Murray was hauled back by Westmeath full-back Kevin Maguire and that allowed Ruairi McCann to extend his sides lead, with Pat Shivers then bending a shot over the bar after nice work between Marc Jordan and Conor Murray in the build-up.
Despite making a super start to proceedings, Antrim were reduced to 14-men for a ten minute period after Tomas McCann checked the run of David Lynch and was shown a black-card for his troubles.
Westmeath made the most of their numerical advantage during McCann’s absence.
Nigel Harte kicked a terrific point to get his side on the scoreboard for the afternoo
They then forced a goal chance through Sam McCartan, but Mick Byrne did really well to get down and deal with the low drive.
Alex Gardiner played a short ball to Ray Connellan to pop over his sides second and parity was restored through a Gardiner side footed effort that had the score 0-03 apiece after 21 minutes.
Westmeath should have led for the first time two minutes later when they cut the Saffrons open after Jack Smith had led a breakaway attack, the play was switched into the path of Lorcan Dolan- who scuffed his shot under pressure from James McAuley.
A converted Ruairi McCann free had Antrim back in front and their confidence was beginning to grow again.
Marc Jordan burst forward and bore down on goal, but lifted his shot high over the bar.
A third point in succession arrived through Pat Shivers and Dermot McAleese sliced a goal chance over to open up a 0-07-0-03 lead.
John Heslin converted a free for the visitors before the break, with Murray brothers Ryan and Conor linking up for the later to claim an advanced mark and stroke over for his second of the afternoon to give his side a 0-08-0-04 lead at the midway point.
Antrim’s Michael Byrne who made his first start of this league campaign in goals, gave a good account of himself
Pat Shivers kicked his third point of the afternoon as Antrim set about their business quickly upon the resumption, although John Heslin responded with a free at the other end.
The hosts restored their five-point advantage through a Ryan Murray point after Declan Lynch scooped the ball into his path.
Enda McGinley’s side looked comfortable in the early exchanges but on 49 minutes things took a turn for the worse when Martin Johnston blocked Jonathan Lynam’s shot with his foot in the area and referee James Molloy signalled for a penalty.
John Heslin took responsibility and sent Mick Byrne the wrong way to make it 0-10-1-05.
Subsitute Luke Loughlin steered over a point and a further score from Ronan O’Toole had the visitors back on terms for the second time with twenty minutes remaining.
The pendulum had firmly shifted in the game with Heslin swinging over his first from play in the afternoon and converting his third free a few minutes later as Westmeath were ahead for the first time.
Only for a smart save from Mick Byrne, things could have got much worse for Antrim as the keeper parried over a goal-bound effort from Jamie Gonoud.
Ryan Murray shot over a free in response- his sides first score in almost twenty minutes to ensure they remained in contention.
Loughlin and Murray traded scores in the aftermath but Westmeath pulled clear in injury-time.
Marksman Heslin angled over his second of the afternoon to finish with a personal tally of 1-05 and subsitute Robbie Forde would get in on the act before the games conclusion.
Antrim finished the game with 14-men after Ryan Murray body-checked Ronan O’Toole and was black carded at the end of a frustrating afternoon for the Saffrons.
Antrim: M Byrne, J McAuley, R Johnston, P Healy, D Lynch, M Johnston, D McAleese (0-01), M McCann, K Small, T McCann, M Jordan (0-01), R McCann (0-02f), R Murray (0-03, 0-01f), P Shivers (0-03), C Murray (0-02, 0-01m). Subs: P McAleer for T McCann (HT), J Gribbon for D Lynch (57), J Laverty for M Johnston (62), O Eastwood for P Shivers (62), E McCabe for M Jordan (64).
Westmeath: J Daly, J Smith, K Maguire, J Gonoud (0-01), D Giles, N Harte (0-01), D Lynch, J Lynam, S Duncan, R Connellan (0-01), R O’Toole (0-01), S McCartan, L Dolan, J Heslin (1-05, 1-03f), A Gardiner (0-01). Subs: K Martin for S Duncan (5), L Loughlin (0-02) for L Dolan (HT), K O’Sullivan for K Martin (64), B Kelly for A Gardiner (70+1), R Forde (0-01) for J Lynam (70+4).
Referee: James Molloy (Galway)