Main picture – Antrim’s top scorer Ryan McQuillan finds an opening before sending over a late point during the second half of Saturday’s win over Wicklow at Portglenone. Pic by John McIlwaine
NFL Division Four
ANTRIM 2-18 WICKLOW 1-14
An Antrim side who finally got their season up and running in Carrick on Shannon last Sunday continued to show improvement as they swept aside the challenge of second placed Wicklow in Portglenone on Saturday evening.
Antrim showed their intent right from the start with pace and aggression unsettling Oisin McConville’s side but it would be 12 minutes before they opened the scoring when Ryan McQuillan fired over.
Meanwhile, a highly rated Wicklow had found scores hard to come-bye themselves with a number of opportunities going a begging and they were made to pay when a lighting run from deep by Eunan Walsh saw his pass across goal palmed home by Pat Shivers in the 14th minute.
Four minutes earlier the hosts might have had the game’s opening goal but Conor Hand’s well struck effort sailed just wide of Mark Jackson’s right hand post after he had outpaced the Wicklow defence.
Shivers goal settled the Saffrons but they were guilty of another missed goal opportunity before Paddy McAleer extended their lead with a point and Dominic McEnhill raised an Orange flag as they continued to call the shots.
As the pace of the home side continued to create openings, Ryan McQuillan finished to the net to put his side 2-4 to 0-0 ahead after another well executed build up and when Pat Shivers followed with another 2 pointer in the 24th minute it was hard to see a way back for Wicklow.
The visitors finally opened their account with an Eoin Darcy pointed free after the ball had been moved forward for dissent and further points from Kevin Quinn, Sean Murphy and another Darcy free brought their total to 0-4 for the opening half.
Ten ahead at the break, Mark Doran’s side looked to have the heavy lifting done as the teams took the field for the second half and when Ryan McQuillan and Conor Hand added early points they were looking good.
Marc Jordan, who had been the provider for those two opening points, added two himself in quick succession and these scores finally brought a response from a Wicklow side who were in second place in the league going into Saturday’s game.
Kevin Quinn and Dean Healy kicked points and then Padraig O’Toole finished to the Antrim net following a goalmouth scramble and with 28 minutes still to play the travelling support roared their approval.
Mark Jackson raised an Orange flag as the visitors game started to gain a bit of traction and when Darcy fisted over the deficit had been reduced to six and for the first time in the game there was a sense of anxiety along the Antrim line.
John McNabb came forward again to convert a ‘45’ and another closer to goal with Darcy replying from a free at the other end but McNabb’s 2pointer with 10 minutes remaining seemed to knock a lot of the fight out of McConville’s side.
Substitute Ryan Murray announced his arrival with a point and big Erin’s Own keeper, McNabb stretched his total for the evening to 0-4 before Ryan McQuillan kicked his side’s final point.
Jackson raised another Orange flag for the visitors and Kevin Quinn concluded the scoring, deep in injury time but Antrim were well out of sight and they will be delighted to make it back-to-back victories and their first at home in 2026 as their hopes of promotion, despite being minimal, still remain in the balance.
Antrim Team: John McNabb 0-5 (1TPf, 0-2f, 1 ’45’); John Morgan, Cathal Hynds, Kavan Keenan; Eoghan McCabe ©, Sean O’Neill, Marc Jordan 0-2; Paddy McAleer 0-3 (1TP), Eunan Walsh; Conor Hand 0-1, Adam Loughran 0-1, Ronan Boyle; Ryan McQuillan 1-2, Pat Shivers 1-0, Dominic McEnhill 0-4 (1TPf, 1TP)
Subs: Ryan Murray 0-1 on for Ronan Boyle (53’), Oisin Doherty on for Adam Loughran, Patrick Finnegan on for Cathal Hynds (63’), James McAuley on for Kavan Keenan (55’), Tiernan McCormick on for Sean O’Neill (69’)
Wicklow Team: Mark Jackson 0-4 (2TPf); Cian Deering, Craig Maguire, Tom Moran; Gavin Fogarty, Malachy Stone, Darragh Fee; Dean Healy ©, Jack Hardy; Cillian McDonald, Padraig O’Toole, Kevin Quinn 0-3; Matt Nolan, Sean Murphy 0-1, Eoin Darcy 0-4 (0-3f)
Subs: Christopher O’Brien 0-2 (1TP) on for Gavin Fogarty (51’), Oisin McGaynor 1-0 on for Sean Murphy (49’), Jo Prendergast on for Cillian McDonald (49’)
Referee: Enda McFeely (Donegal)
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