DIVISION 1B
Antrim 0-25 Carlow 0-12
Sunday 22 February
Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast
Antrim recorded their first win of the season on Sunday afternoon as they swept aside the challenge of Carlow at Corrigan Park. 13 points was the difference between the sides, in truth the final score flattered the Barrowsiders as the Saffrons produced the goods.
With this game being billed as a ‘must win’, Antrim answered plenty of the questions being posed of this side and after a disappointing display against Kildare, there were plenty of questions. But the longer this contest continued, Davy Fitzgerald’s side played with fluency and a confidence that has been missing in the opening three games. Carlow were chasing Saffron shadows in the final quarter with Antrim relentless.
Seaan Elliott top scored with six of his eight points coming from placed ball while captain Conal Cunning finished the hour with six white flags. Keelan Molloy marked his return to the county starting 15 with a man of the match display from midfield and split the uprights on three occasions – making it 17 points in total from the Dunloy clubmen.
This was a performance that overshadowed any individual displays, however. With the three named, Joe Maskey and Ryan McCambridge also put in top performances while the work rate all over the pitch in and out of possession was outstanding and fast becoming what this side are being known for.
Carlow competed for long periods and with Marty Kavanagh at his clinical best from placed ball, they always had an outlet. But, they rarely looked like they were capable of pinning Antrim back. Six points coming in open play is a paltry return from the visitors and just three in the second half.
The foundations to the victory were laid in the first half, however. Antrim played with a more attacking shape and despite a slow start, they controlled the first half with Seaan Elliott catching the eye. The delivery of ball into the forward line was excellent throughout as the Saffrons made light of playing into the wind blowing into the far goals at Corrigan Park.
Antrim would have been content with the one point lead they held in the first half. The elements were substantial and largely in their favour for the second half and they were quickest out of the blocks after the restart. Elliot and Molloy started off with two big scores as they extend their lead to three points inside the opening four minutes of the second half.
Kavanagh’s fifth free of the contest left three between the sides in the 45th minute but Carlow wouldn’t register another score for 11 minutes as Antrim turned the screw, scoring seven points unanswered from five different players. Ruairi Donaghy’s pointed effort in the 48th minute a particular highlight as the Naomh Éanna man rose highest to catch a side line from Molloy before splitting the uprights.
It took the Antrim lead to double figures going into the final minutes of the game as the Saffrons continued to add gloss and finish the game strongly. A long range free from James McNaughton coupled with scores from Cunning, Stephen Rooney and substitute Eoin O’Neill put further daylight between the sides at the death.
The Saffrons face Dublin in seven days’
time with their fate still in their hands. It will take a massive performance to get anything from the Dubs but this 70 plus minutes will help confidence going into that game. It was exactly what was needed after the disappointment of the Kildare game and just rewards for the efforts being put in by all concerned.
ANTRIM: Cormac McFadden; Stephen Rooney, Niall O’Conner, Paddy Burke; Eoin McFerran, Joe Maskey, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy; Paul Boyle, Conor Johnston, Ruairi Donaghy; Seaan Elliot, James McNaughton, Conal Cunning
Subs: Scott Walsh on for Eoin McFerran (51’), Eoin O’Neill on for Paul Boyle (59’), Joseph McLaughlin on for Ruairi Donaghy (63’), Morgan Nelson on for Conor Johnston (69’), Ryan McNulty on for Gerard Walsh (71’)
Scorers: Seaan Elliot 0-8 (0-5f, 0-1 65’), Conal Cunning 0-6, Keelan Molloy 0-3, James McNaughton 0-2 (0-1f), Conor Johnston 0-1, Niall O’Connor 0-1, Ruairi Donaghy 0-1, Stephen Rooney 0-1, Morgan Nelson 0-1, Paul Boyle 0-1
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Niall Bolger, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Paidi O’Shea; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Paddy Boland; Chris Nolan, Donagh Murphy, Jon Nolan; Jack Treacy, John Michael Nolan, Martin Kavanagh
Subs: Ted Joyce on for John Michael Nolan (43’), Richard Coady on for Paddy Boland (59’), Kevin Kavanagh on for Donagh Murphy (59’), Eric English on for Paidi O’Shea (67’)
Scorers: Martin Kavanagh 0-5 (0-5f), Kevin McDonald 0-2 (0-1f), Paddy Boland 0-1, Jon Nolan 0-1, Chris Nolan 0-1, Jack Treacy 0-1, John Michael Nolan 0-1
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