Dioralyte Walsh Shield – Semi Final
Antrim 2-10 Kildare 0-17
Sunday 11 January
By Brendan McTaggart
Antrim fell to a one point defeat on Sunday afternoon to bow out of the Walsh Shield at the hands of Kildare. The Lilywhite’s staged a late comeback of sorts, registering the final three scores of the hour to win by the minimum as the Saffrons were left to rue their profligacy in front of the target.
In a second half where they would reach double figures in wides, it was a period just after the three-quarter mark where Davy Fitzgerald side hit four wides in succession in less than five minutes that proved to be decisive in the end. Kildare were certainly wasteful themselves in the first half but they saw out the match at the death with a purple patch that was the winning of the game.
Antrim failed to capitalise on two early second half goals that really should have been the foundation for victory but credit to the home side, they never wavered and despite the slow start to the second period, got the scoreboard ticking.
The returning Conal Cunning was top scorer for the Saffrons, all of his six points came from placed ball while he had a hand in creating the goals scored by Jack McCloskey and Paul Boyle.
Others who caught the eye were Ruairi McCormick and Niall O’Connor in defence, Eoin O’Neill in midfield and Domhnall Nugent was assured between the sticks for the Saffrons.
Jack Sheridan was top of the scoring charts for the Lilywhites, registering 10 white flags from placed ball in a peerless display in awful conditions while he had plenty of support in attack from Gerry Keegan. Cathal McCabe in midfield was another for Brian Dowling’s men who had a strong hour while substitutes Jack Travers and Liam O’Reilly would end up with the vital scores at the death.
With conditions worsening as the game progressed, it was a dogfight for possession with neither side yielding. The first half was played with a bit of bite, threatening to boil over on a couple of occasions but Kildare edged the opening 30 by the minimum, 0-8 to 0-7.
The opening six minutes of the second half saw Antrim score two goals and hit the upright with another chance as they started superbly. Paul Boyle making a break from midfield before finding Coby Cunning. He unselfishly passed inside to Jack McCloskey and he would make no mistake after just two minutes of the restart.
The second major came with the next meaningful attack. Gerard Walsh with the side line cut and finding Coby in space. He went for goal and while his powerful effort was saved superbly by Paddy McKenna between the sticks, but Paul Boyle was first to the rebound to put the Saffrons five clear in the 34th minute.
Kildare registered their opening point of the second half through wing half back Paul Dolan soon after but Antrim carved out another goal chance with the next attack. Boyle once again making the break from midfield before finding Joe Maskey. His effort came back off the post and Kildare cleared the threat.
That miss seemed to give Kildare a lift as they began to find some fluency in their play. With Sheridan’s accuracy from placed ball punishing any Antrim indiscretions and Muiris Curtin becoming more influential, the home side began to eat into the Antrim lead.
Antrim scored their opening point of the second half in the 47th minute and would only register another two white flags in the time that remained. That final quarter littered with missed chances or efforts dropping short while Kildare were making the most of the Antrim misses.
When Cormac McKeown pointed in the 59th minute, the Antrim lead went to two points with four minutes of injury time announced and the Saffron looked safe. However Sheridan landed his 10th free of the contest before Travers raised a white flag from wide on the right to draw the sides level with all thoughts turning to a potential penalty shoot-out.
Antrim created one last chance with a precise passing movement that saw them find James McNaughton in space, his effort from distance fell to the right hand side of the posts and wide yet with time running out, Kildare registered the winning score through O’Reilly with what was the last action of the contest.
Given this was the first competitive game of the year after last weeks contest with Offaly fell foul to the weather, this was never going to be once for the purists. When you couple in the fact that the wind and underfoot conditions were horrendous, results are secondary.
In a little over a months time (8 February), these two sides will face each other again with important league points on the line. Fitzgerald will be hoping for more fluency and accuracy from his side while conditions may be more favourable for any sort of hurling!
All thoughts now turn to the opening league match with Wexford (away) on 24 January.
TEAMS
ANTRIM: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Eoin McFerran, Ruairi McCormick; Gerard Walsh, Joe Maskey, Sean McKay; Eoin O’Neill, Ryan McCambridge; Scott Walsh, Paul Boyle, Sean Duffin; Jack McCloskey, Conal Cunning, Joseph McLaughlin
Subs: Niall O’Connor for S McKay (30); Seaan Elliott for J McCloskey (39); Conor Johnston for J McLaughlin (39); James McNaughton for E O’Neill (44); Cormac McKeown for S Duffin (53)
Scorers: C Cunning 0-6 (6fs); J McLaughlin 1-1; J McCloskey 1-00; E O’Neill 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; C McKeown 0-1
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Evan O’Briain, Rian Boran, Dan O’Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin; Alan Goss, Cathal McCabe; Caolan Smith, Gerry Keegan, Tim Ryan; Jack Sheridan, Muiris Curtin, James Dolan
Subs: Jack Travers for T Ryan (41); Darragh Melville for J Dolan (47); Liam O’Reilly for E O’Briain (51); Michael Owens for D O’Meara (51); Tom Power for G Keegan (53)
Scorers: J Sheridan 0-10 (10fs); G Keegan 0-2; M Curtin 0-2; P Dolan 0-1; J Travers 0-1; L O’Reilly 0-1
Referee: Kyle Watters (Offaly)