Antrim need to get something from Wicklow’s visit to Corrigan on Sunday if they are to maintain their NFL division 3 status and today we take a look at the Leinster side’s last visit to Belfast on the 19th February 2022.
Andy McEntee and his side would settle for a similar result on Sunday and we will take a look at that game later in the week but for now let’s sit back and enjoy the report from that victory back in 2022.
Allianz National Football League Division 3
Antrim 2-10-1-07 Wicklow
19th February 2022
Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park
Second half goals from Marc Jordan and Conor Murray helped Antrim to bounce back from defeat against Limerick with a 2-10-1-07 win over Wicklow at Corrigan Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Saffrons made a strong start, but a Kevin Quinn goal gave Wicklow a foothold and the sides were drawn level at the break.
Jordan hammered the hosts back into the driving seat after the restart- although it wasn’t until club-mate Conor Murray hit the net in injury-time that the points were safe after a second half that saw both sides waste goal opportunities.
Antrim went into the game looking to respond to defeat to Limerick a fortnight earlier and were forced into a late change with Marc Jordan coming into replace injured Dermot McAleese.
The hosts took an early lead through a Ruairi McCann point after the forward twisted, turned and fired between the posts. Ryan Murray then picked up where he left off against Limerick and conjured up a fine score.
Enda McGinley’s side stretched their advantage through an Odhran Eastwood point after a nice build-up between Marc Jordan and Ruairi McCann- who would double his tally in the immediate aftermath to give his side a 0-04-0-00 lead.
Wicklow had barely laid a glove on the Saffrons up until that stage, but they stormed back into the game with a 16th minute goal through Kevin Quinn.
Eoin Darcy slipped the ball across to the full-forward who rocketed a shot to the roof of the net past Oisin Kerr.
The visitors were back on terms through a terrific Mark Kenny point, though Antrim regained the lead.
A fantastic Kevin Small score was followed by a second Eastwood point after Jamie Gribbon seized upon a poor kick-out from Wicklow keeper Shane Doyle.
Doyle atoned for that error and made a double stop to deny Gribbin, Odhran Eastwood unselfishly passed to Gribbin whose shot was turned off the line by Doyle, the chance was kept alive, and the Wicklow keeper kept the Cargin forward at bay at the second time of asking.
Defence was then turned to attack as Darragh Fitzgerald pulled a point back at the other end and the sides were drawn level for a second time through a Eoin Murtagh point after Andy Maher opted to play a free outfield and work the ball into a shooting position.
Antrim looked to have edged ahead at the break after Paddy McAleer laid the ball off to Ryan Murray- who curled over his second of the afternoon, but Oisin McGraynor converted a free to ensure that the sides were tied at 0-07-1-04 at the interval.
Jamie Gribbin has his shot saved by Wicklow goalkeeper Doyle Seconds later Gribbin is denied again
Both sides traded scores at the beginning of the second period, substitute Conor Murray swung a fantastic pass into the path of Tomas McCann who brushed off heavy pressure and stroked the ball over.
Wicklow restored parity through a Mark Kenny free- it was short-lived though as Antrim emphatically regained the lead through a strike from Marc Jordan.
The chance was manufactured by Cargin duo Michael McCann and Jamie Gribbon- who opted for an unselfish lay-off to Jordan, who rifled low to the net past Doyle to give his side a 1-08-1-05 lead.
Andy Maher drove forward and pulled a point back for his side and things could have got better with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Substitute Rory Stokes saw his goal-bound effort blocked, the loose ball came back his way and Stokes follow-up effort drifted inches past the post.
Two minutes later Antrim saw a goal chance go abegging, Marc Jordan threaded a pass through to Kevin Small to advance and smash a powerful effort off the underside of the crossbar, the loose ball fell to Conor Murray whose high shot dropped and clipped the post before the danger was eventually scrambled away.
Murray would get himself on the scoresheet after a nice move from Odhran Eastwood and a converted Ruairi McCann free had Antrim 1-10-1-06 ahead going into the last ten minutes.
Conor Murray scores Antrim’s game clinching goal in second half injury time
The game was very much up for grabs going into injury-time with Mark Kenny claiming and converting an advanced mark to leave a goal between the sides.
It wasn’t until deep into five additional minutes that Antrim finally saw off the Garden-County.
Pat Shivers stole the ball back midway inside the Wicklow half and picked out the run of Conor Murray- who took off towards the target and hammered it past Doyle to give his side a 2-10-1-07 win at the full-time whistle and ensure the Saffrons a second win in their opening three league encounters.
Antrim: O Kerr, E McCabe, R Johnston, P McCormick, M Jordan (1-00), J Laverty, P Healy, M McCann, K Small (0-01), R Murray (0-02), J Gribbon, P McAleer, T McCann (0-01), R McCann (0-03, 0-01f), O Eastwood (0-02). Subs: C Murray (1-01) for E McCabe (HT), P McBride for P McAleer (50), S McGarry for T McCann (55), M Johnston for M Jordan (60), P Shivers for R Johnston (65), J McCann for R Murray (70+5).
Wicklow: S Doyle, P O’Keane, M Stone, N Devereux, Z Cullen, N Donnelly, E Murtagh (0-01), D Healy, P O’Toole, A Maher (0-01), M Kenny (0-03, 0-01f; 0-01m), D Fitzgerald (0-01), O McGraynor (0-01f), K Quinn (1-00), E Darcy. Subs: T Moran for N Devereux (HT), R Stokes for E Darcy (50), JP Hurley for K Quinn (63), C Maguire for Z Cullen (70).
Referee: Paul Faloon (An Dun)