Allianz National Football League, Division Three
Antrim 1-09-1-06 Clare
Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park
ANTRIM hung on in terrible conditions at Corrigan Park to claim their first National League win with a hard fought 1-09-1-06 victory over Clare on Sunday afternoon.
Andy McEntee’s charges made a blistering start, leading through Conor Hand’s point with debutant Fionn Nagle palming over Mick Byrne’s free that hung in the wind.
Hand landed the only two-point score of the contest with a little help from the blustery elements that saw the ball bounce over and the 7th minute the hosts were well on the road to victory.
Nagle had the simplest of tasks in turning home from close range after Paddy McBride played a one-two before bearing down on goal and opting for a switch to the St Enda’s clubman.
It took Clare until the 10th minute before they replied but it was in the form of a goal.
Aaron Griffin held onto the ball well before laying it off to Ciaran Downes whose attempted shot dropped to the net with a little help of a deflection to make it 1-04-1-00.
A converted Emmet McMahon free followed midway through the half for the visitors but Antrim soon regained the initiative.
Midfielders Conor Hand and Conor Stewart combined- with the later kicking his first point of the afternoon and Ryan Murray opened his account on his first appearance for the Saffrons since 2023.
Clare may have doubled their goal tally before the break; however, Brian McNamara’s shot was magnificently pushed behind by Mick Byrne and McNamara sent a low effort into Byrne’s mid-drift a few minutes later.
The hosts added to their lead before the break, Byrne lofted in a free that swirled in the wind and rain; Ronan Boyle let fly with a shot into the crowd and Paddy McBride gathered and popped over to give his side a 1-07-1-01 lead at the midway point.
Byrne made another crucial save within minutes of the restart, denying Sean McAlister’s angled shot.
Clare hit quickfire points through Ciaran Downes and McAlister- who bore down on goal, but his attempt rose over the bar.
On the 51st minute Emmet McMahon looked as though his shot was destined for the net until Byrne stuck up a hand to divert the ball over the bar.
With ten minutes remaining Antrim were without a score and their six-point advantage was halved.
The pressure lifted when Paddy McBride swung over a free after Clare were penalised for not having the required three attackers in their own half.
Conor Stewart doubled his account soon after as Antrim were now 1-09-1-04 to the good.
Visitors Clare weren’t going quietly though as Brian McNamara clipped over and substitute Cormac Murray reacted quickly to a loose ball that dropped, and his shot flew over in the first minute of injury time.
Their last chance to salvage a point came deep into injury time as Keelan Sexton floated a free into the square, but the ball was palmed wide, and Antrim survived a second half fightback to make a winning start to the 2025 season.
ANTRIM: M Byrne, J Morgan, E Walsh, K Keenan, R Boyle, J Finnegan, D McAleese, C Stewart (0-2), C Hand (0-3), P Finnegan, M Jordan, P McBride (0-2, 0-1f), R Murray (0-1), F Nagle (1-1), D McEnhill. Subs: R McQuillan for D McEnhill (23), P Ferris for K Keenan (61), N Burns for R McQuillan (70+1).
CLARE: E Tubridy, M Doherty, C Brennan, C Rouine, I Ugweuru, F Kelliher, A Sweeney, B McNamara (0-1), S McAllister, E Cleary, E McMahon (0-2, 0-1f), D Walsh, C Downes (1-1), A Griffin (0-1), K Sexton. Subs: G Murray for S McAllister (56), C Murray (0-1) for A Griffin (66), S Griffin for C Rouine (70+1), D Burns for E Cleary (70+1).
REFEREE: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)
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