National Hurling Division 1B
Wexford 1-13 Antrim 1-12
Saturday 24 January
Brendan McTaggart reports from Chadwicks Wexford Park, Wexford
It was heartbreak in the teeming rain for Antrim on Saturday evening as they fell to a one point defeat to Wexford. Having never been behind at any stage during the game, Antrim looked set to record an opening day win in Wexford. But, a free in the eighth minute of injury time, 25 yards out, taken by Wexford ‘keeper Mark Fanning proved to be the decisive score.
It was a gut-wrenching end to a game that Antrim simply didn’t deserve to lose. They had battled superbly for the entire game and could have been further ahead but for some missed chances when the game was in the melting pot.
It was a day where bodies were on the line and wasn’t one for the feint of heart. Antrim, tactically, denied the home side scoring chances and time on the ball for the majority of the game while up front they looked to use the pace of Seaan Elliott, James McNaughton and Paul Boyle.
With underfoot conditions far from conducive for any sort of hurling, Antrim won their fair share of rucks. Showing a desire and intensity in the tackle and they fed off that to build belief as the match progressed. Every turn over ball being celebrated like it was a match winning point by a defence that was led superbly by Joe Maskey, Seán McKay and Paddy Burke while Ryan McCambridge’s strength in midfield was exactly what the Saffrons needed.
The first half was a testament to the grit and determination of the Saffrons as they battled through the driving rain and a powerful gale. They started with intent, establishing an early lead through the accurate free taking of Seaan Elliott and clinical points from distance.
The home side managed to level the scores on several occasions through Simon Roche – their own dead ball specialist but Antrim finished the half with a flurry.
Three unanswered points from Paddy Burke, captain Conal Cunning and a Seaan Elliott free left the Saffrons 0-9 to 0-6 ahead at the short whistle.
There were concerns that three points may not have been enough such were the elements and with the wind increasing after the break, it was going to take a monumental effort from Davy Fitzgerald’s men to get anything out of the game.
The intensity reached boiling point ten minutes into the second half when a flare-up resulted in both sides being reduced to 14 men. Gerard Walsh receiving a straight red and Wexford’s Richie Lawlor receiving a second yellow card for his part in the shenanigans.
Wexford looked to use the wind to chip away at the Antrim lead but the Saffrons remained composed to keep their noses in front with a mix of slick passing and tireless work rate in the middle of the park. Even when Roche converted a ’65 in the 66th minute to cut the Antrim lead to the minimum, Antrim remained unshaken.
The drama escalated in the final minutes when fresh legs off the bench looked to have given Antrim the edge. Ruairi Donaghy, Joseph McLaughlin and Conor Johnston all combining for the Saffrons major as the clock ticked into injury time at the end of 70 minutes to give Antrim a three point lead.
Wexford pulled a point back immediately and while Antrim had chances to extend their lead, their accuracy let them down with the game in the melting pot.
The home side were awarded a free some 50 plus yards from goal with Roche standing over and surveying his options, referee Thomas Walsh spotted an infringement and brought the sliotar forward to the 21 yard line and in front of the goals. Wexford looked to Mark Fanning and the goal keeper riffled the sliotar high to the back of the Antrim net.
Much to the frustration of the Antrim management, the game was blown upon the restart. It certainly felt like there should have been at least one more play but Antrim’s time ran out.
For long periods of this game, it looked like Antrim were going to start the new league campaign with a well-deserved win. It didn’t happen but the green shoots of what they are trying to build began to appear in a rain soaked Wexford Park.
All thoughts now turn to welcoming the 2024 All Ireland champions to north Antrim as Clare come to town.
TEAMS
ANTRIM: Domhnall Nugent; Eoin McFerran, Paddy Burke, Ruairi McCormick; Seán McKay, Joe Maskey, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Eoin O’Neill; Scott Walsh, Paul Boyle, Séan Duffin; Seaan Elliott, James McNaughton, Conal Cunning
Subs: Cormac McKeown for S Duffin (52); Joseph McLaughlin for R McCambridge (59); Conor Johnston for S Elliott (66); Ruairi Donaghy for S Walsh (69); Jack McCloskey for E O’Neill (70+5)
Scorers: S Elliott 0-7 (6fs); C Johnston 1-00; C Cunning 0-2; S Duffin 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; P Boyle 0-1
WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; David Clarke, Conor Foley, Darragh Carley; Niall Murphy, Richie Lawlor, Eamon Wickham; Conor Hearne, Ross Banville; Ciaran O’Connor, Simon Roche, James Byrne; Cian Byrne, Tomás Kinsella, Kevin Foley
Subs: Corey Byrne-Dunbar for C O’Connor (52); Jack Redmond for J Byrne (52); Darren Codd for C Byrne (59); David Codd for R Banville (59); Damien Reck for C Hearne (59)
Scorers: S Roche 0-8 (6fs, 1’65); M Fanning 1-00 (free); T Kinsella 0-1; C Hearne 0-1; J Byrne 0-1; D Codd 0-1; J Redmond 0-1
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)
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