A strong start to both halves saw Antrim overcome visitors Tipperary by four points in Sunday’s Tailteann Cup opening round game at Corrigan Park Belfast.
Ruairi McCann (14) celebrates with his Aghagallon clubmate Eunan Walsh after scoring the first of his two goals at the start of the second half. Pic by Bert Trowlan
Antrim appeared to be coasting in the early stages after Kavan Keenan fired to the net just seconds after Tipperary’s Conor Sweeney missed a golden chance with the goal at his mercy seconds earlier at the other end. Two minutes later Keenan’s full back partner Eunan Walsh also hit the Tipperary net as a full of running Antrim were really flying. The Saffrons stretched their advantage to eight points, but inspired by late replacement Conor Sweeney the visitors fought their way back into the game, and reduced the gap to a goal by half time, late replacement Sean O’Connor getting the Tipp goal.
Tipperary appeared to be in a good position as the turned to play with the fresh breeze, but once again Antrim were quick from the traps and a great three man move was palmed to the net by full forward Ruairi McCann. Two quick points from corner forward Ryan McQuillan and one by Conor Hand stretched the Antrim lead, and when McCann struck again on fifty minutes with his second goal the only thing in question appeared to be the size of the winning margin.
However, just as in the first halh, Tipp came roaring back and holding the hosts scoreless for next fifteen minutes they hit 1-5 without reply, the goal coming from a Sweeney penalty.
The outcome was now very much in the balance.
Sweeney (2), Kennedy and Maloney all added points and suddenly the gap was down to just two points, but Antrim steadied the ship with late points from substitute Dominic McEnhill put them four clear, but it still took a very good save with his feet from Antrim keeper Byrne to see the Saffrons home..
Antrim’s Kavan Keenan who was superb in today’s win over Tipperary
ANTRIM
Michael Byrne, Declan Lynch, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan, Niall Burns, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese, Patrick McAleer, Cathal Hynds, Conor Hand, Patrick McBride, Ruairi McCann (Creggan), Ryan McQuillan, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), Marc Jordan
TIPPERARY
Evan Comerford, Tadhg Condon, Jimmy Feehan, James Morris, Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Teddy Doyle, Stephen Grogan, Conall Kennedy, Conor Cadell, Jack Kennedy, (Clonmel Commercials) Peter McGarry, Sean O’Connor, Conor Sweeney, Steven O’Brien.
Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie Championship final :
Antrim 1-11 Derry 0-11
SATURDAY’S Armagh City Hotel Ulster senior championship final was played on one of the hottest days of the year to date and demanded a lot of stamina from the players.
Both Derry and Antrim gave their best efforts in a physically demanding encounter, but Antrim, despite their early season problems, had that little bit more experience and were able to contain Derry and eke out victory.
Derry got off to a poor start with five successive wides, while Antrim scored from their first three efforts at scores, a point each from Caitrín Dobbin, Dervla Cosgrove (free) and Maeve Kelly. From then onwards Derry seemed to be chasing the game and each time they got level, Antrim seemed to take off again.
Player of the match Erin Coulter in action
However Antrim’s scoring accuracy wasn’t particularly impressive; they accumulated 11 wides over the hour- although many of those can be credited to the Derry defence who stuck well to their task.
After that early Antrim burst, Aoife Shaw found the target with two frees and Áine Barton tapped over from the right wing to tie the scores while Antrim’s shooting became wayward.
They had gone 12 minutes without a score until Róisín McCormick picked out Erin Coulter with a cross field pass after 22 minutes. The Glenravel defender pushed forward and drew the defender before off-loading to Caitrín Dobbin for the only goal of the game.
Nevertheless Derry were back level by the break with two quick points from Áine Barton and another from Anna Cassidy while Antrim goalie Cáitríona Graham brought off a good save during that period.
On the re-start, Niamh Gribbin stood up well to an early goal effort and Graham brought off another stop at the other end while Clare McKillop’s last ditch interception denied Aoife Shaw another shot at goal in the 44th minute.
By then Dervla Cosgrove had grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck with three points and another from a Róisín McCormick free had Antrim’s three points’ lead restored at 1-7 to 0-7.
Points from Áine Barton and Aimee Lennon reduced the gap, but the Saffrons finished strongly with scores from Sarah Fyfe, Róisín McCormick (free) and two from sub Cassie McArthur to claim their 49th title.
Antrim captain Caitrin Dobbin receives the Ulster Senior Camogie Championship cup from Ulster secretary Karen McCormick and Camogie Association President Brian Molloy.
There was a number of excellent performances, mainly from defenders on either side and it wasn’t a surprise that it went to Antrim’s wing-half back Erin Coulter whose driving runs through the centre caused Derry problems and indeed created the only goal of the game.
The victory will have lifted Antrim spirits after their troubles early in the season. But it might also have fired up Derry for the meeting of the pair in the first round of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior championship in a fortnight at an Antrim venue.
Antrim centre back Evanne Martin clears the ball
Antrim: C Graham, F McIntosh, M McGarry, C McKillop, E Coulter, E Martin, A Boyle, E Johnston, S McKillop, M Kelly 0-1, S Fyfe 0-1, F Kelly, C Dobbin 1-1, R McCormick 0-2 frees, D Cosgrove 0-4, 2 frees.
Subs: C McArthur 0-2 for F Kelly (36), J McIntosh for D Cosgrove (58)
Derry: N Gribbin, C McEldowney, N Quinn, S McGill, R Downey, A Ní Chaiside, A Cassidy 0-2, D O’Kane, M Kerr, Á Barton 0-4, 3 frees, A Shaw 0-2 frees, E McGuigan, O Rafferty, B Rogers, O Hull 0-1.
Subs: A Lennon 0-2 for B Rogers (44), R McAllister for E McGuigan (50), Á McGill for A Shaw (58)
Referee: P McDonald (Cavan)
FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE ULSTER FINAL CHECK OUT SEAN PAUL McKILLOP’S FACEBOOK PAGE
Brendan McTaggart reports from Parnell Park, Dublin
It’s the hope that kills you. As Dublin tore Antrim apart in the second half, playing like a prime Limerick, the realisation of the the Saffrons hopes if not expectations being trampled over began to sink in.
It was a hard watch in that second 35 minutes. When the P.A. announced four additional minutes at the end of the game it felt like our emotions were being toyed with.
Antrim travelled to Parnell Park buoyant and confident. They left with a plethora of questions remaining unanswered and their championship hopes hanging by a thread.
It was supposed to be different. The euphoria of that infamous Wexford victory feels like a long, long time ago right now.
For what it’s worth, that hope that I speak of was still prevalent going into the final quarter. Maybe just slightly outside of touching distance, Antrim trailed by six points in the 58th minute after Seaan Elliott fired over his third point of the game. It was a brilliant score and roused the sizeable Antrim support in attendance. The Dublin response was emphatic to the point where it was a savage knockout blow. By the time Conal Cunning fired over his fourth free of the match in the 65th minute, the home side had recorded 2-3 to take the game away from Antrim. They cruised through the time that remained as Antrim looked for goals to try and get some sort of way back into the game, it was just never for coming.
The game started in the worse possible fashion for Darren Gleeson’s men with Paul Crummey scoring the opening goal of the game with barely 10 seconds on the clock. The sliotar coming into the edge of the square from a Conor Burke delivery and Crummey managed to get a hand up to deflect the sliotar beyond Ryan Elliott.
Antrim did recover and started busily in that opening quarter. They were getting plenty of ball into the full forward line but nothing was ‘sticking’ to make an impact on the scoreboard.
With Donal Burke and Sean Currie imperious, Dublin opened up a 10 point lead as early as the 23rd minute. Antrim’s attacking unit flattering to deceive with a number of missed frees – admittedly from long range and efforts dropping short doing little to help their cause.
The Saffrons goal came in the 28th minute through James McNaughton. It came at the end of a superb piece of play that involved swift and precise passing, Nigel Elliott involved twice in the move with Ryan McGarry and Eoghan Campbell. McNaughton still had plenty to do and showed the same willingness and determination that we seen against Wexford to get his half yard of space before finding the back of the net.
The hope was there again and rekindling thoughts of pulling a win out of the bag.
The home side led 1-13 to 1-6 at the break and with whatever wind blowing in their favour, Antrim made a bright start to the second half. Indeed, by the time the clock ticked into the 40th minute the difference was reduced to four with Keelan Molloy (2), Nigel Elliott and Gerard Walsh all finding their range.
To get anything in Parnell Park for those in Saffron, you need an element of luck. Lady luck seemed to not only dessert us, she laughed in our faces for the next couple of minutes. Antrim were looking more like themselves. There was an air of deliverance coming but twice the sliotar came back off the upright in two separate attacks from Coby Cunning. The second hitting both uprights before falling to the nearest Dublin defender.
The sides were evenly matches for the next 15 minutes or so, Antrim starting to score in bunches with Eoghan Campbell, Walsh and Cunning on target while Donal Burke, Currie and Fergal Whitely were keeping the scoreboard ticking for the Dubs.
Antrim’s undoubted score of the game came in the 58th minute when Conall Bohill rose superbly to claim the sliotar above the Dublin challenges and laid his pass into the path of Seaan Elliott. The Dunloy man fired over to reduce the deficit to six and Antrim had their tails up.
That was as good as it got.
Dublin found another gear thereafter, almost riled at the thought of these Antrim upstarts coming to their patch and trying to get the win, Dublin purred and Antrim wilted.
Their second goal came from the brilliant Brian Hayes after good work from substitute Ronan Hayes put him through on goal. Points followed from Donal Burke (free) and Currie before Donal Burke scored his sides third major of the game. A sumptuous strike from a placed ball that caught those on the Antrim line by surprise.
That hope was disintegrated and crumbled upon the pristine like surface of Parnell Park.
Dublin unloaded the bench, their challenge never waivered. Antrim lobbed high ball to the edge of the square, hoping for a break. That break never came.
20 points the difference by the time referee Kevin Jordan called for an end to the Dublin exhibition in the closing minutes. Antrim trudged off the Parnell Park pitch deflated and bewildered at what had just happened.
Subs: Joseph McLaughlin for A O’Brien (47); Paul Boyle for K Molloy (50); Fred McCurry for C Boyd (55); Christy McGarry for N McKenna (61); Sean McKay for C Cunning (65)
Scorers: J McNaughton 1-2; C Cunning 0-4 (4 f’s); S Elliott 0-3; E Campbell 0-3; K Molloy 0-2; G Walsh 0-2 (1 f); N Elliott 0-1; Fred McCurry 0-1
Dublin: Sean Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle; Chris Crummey, Conor Donohue, Eoghan O’Donnell; Brian Hayes, Conor Burke; Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Sean Currie; Fergal Whitely, Cian O’Sullivan, Paul Crummey
Subs: Ronan Hayes for P Crummey (47); Darragh Power for D Sutcliffe (60); James Madden for C Crummey (65); Jake Malone for C O’Sullivan (65); Sean Gallagher for B Hayes (68)
Scorers: D Burke 1-11 (1-9 f’s); S Currie 0-5; C Burke 0-4; P Crummey 1-00; B Hayes 1-00; C O’Sullivan 0-2; J Bellew 0-2; R Hayes 0-2; D Power 0-2; C Donohue 0-1; D Sutcliffe 0-1; F Whitely 0-1; S Gallagher 0-1
The Antrim team to play Tipperary in Sunday’s Tailteann Cup has been announced and shows a number of changes to the one who lost |Down in the Ulster Championship in Newry.
Paddy McAleer returns to partner Cathal Hynds in the Antrim mid-field while Niall Burns of St. Gall’s comes into the Saffron defence. The other change sees Ruairi McCann of Aghagallon start up front in an attack that has the potential to trouble the Tipperary defence
Tomorrow (Sunday) the people of Glenarm and Carnlough will say goodbye to Connor McNeill, who tragically lost his life earlier this week in a road accident in which his two children were also injured. Clubmate and lifielong friend Terence Mulvenna pays tribute to Connor.
Connor McNeill (30) less than a week ago, lining out for Glenarm in New York
Excluding family events, Connor had just spent what may have been the trip of a lifetime, having travelled on Thursday 2nd May to New York with thirty six of his lifetime friends and Shanè Ui Nèill teammates to play two games, one against Rocklands GAA, the other against a New York select at the iconic Gaelic Park in the Bronx. Connor was a sub in Gaelic Park on Friday night, but as was the case with Connor, he played an active role from the line, giving encouragement, stick carrier, first aid, and not being afraid to make his feelings known, and he, like all of us, was overjoyed by the manner of the victory his colleagues had achieved. Prior to this game, Connor had spent the morning/afternoon sightseeing around NYC, ground zero,statue of Liberty, and a much talked about scooter tour of Central Park. Saturday was a day off for the team, more tourist activities, and a wee bit of shopping for Emma, Lucy, and Ollie. On Sunday the boys travelled north to Orangeburg to play our hosts, Rocklands GAA. Connor played in this game occupying a position on the edge of the square, from where he scored one point and provided a sublime assist for a Declan McDermott goal. Following lunch on Monday we made our way home, arriving back in our Parishes lunchtime Tuesday. Our euphoria was shattered, as was that of Connor’s family and the general community shortly afterwards when the news broke of the awful untimely events of the day. Connor had been a juvenile hurler and played right through senior level winning JHC Ulster medal 2004, playing All-Ireland JHC semi final the same year, Ulster league winner 2007, ACHL Div 2 winner 2008, he later took up coaching roles within the club, and recently became part of the coaching staff at St. John’s Camogie club, where his 5 year old daughter had begun playing, he also represented both clubs as a referee. During his managerial tenure with Shanè Uì Nèill he won the 2020 Mccaughan cup. To Emma, Lucy, & Ollie, Connor’s father Hugh, siblings Mark, Séamus, Daniel, Annette and Hugh Pat , and the greater McNeill and Boyd families we offer our deepest condolences. Mary Queen of the Gael pray for him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
