Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship
Antrim 0-13 Armagh 1-14
Antrim minors produced a spirited performance but it wasn’t enough as they went down by four in the end in this entertaining qualifying round at a sunny Dunsilly on Saturday afternoon.
The Orchard arrived at the Antrim town venue cast in the role of favourites but were pushed all the way by a lively Antrim side who must have felt at one stage as if they were on their way to a famous victory.
It was Armagh who dictated the opening exchanges in almost perfect conditions at Dunsilly and raced into an early four point lead with Conor Barry, Shane Toner 0-2 and Aodhian Carson Gallagher all on target.
The youg Saffrons settled however and slowly began to gain some traction as Tom Convery opened their account but they were thankful to Niall Quinn as Armagh countered and the Moneyglass man pulled off a fine blocking save to deny Aodhain Carson Gallagher.
The visitors were still enjoying the better of the exchanges and Cayden Feeney pointed the resulting ‘65’ but Antrim responded with as point from Dara Campbell to leave just a goal between the sides after 18 minutes play.
Antrim were beginning to enjoy more possession but were guilty of poor choices at times with a number of shots dropping short into the arms of Charlie McGuinness in the Armagh goals.
It was the young Orchard who looked more dangerous in their attacking fazes of the game and a swift counter from mid-field saw Shane Toner fire to the net With the Antrim defence guilty of backing off.
It wasn’t looking good for the home side at this juncture in play but they replied immediately with a good point from Joey Griffin and Tom Convery followed immediately from a close range free and another from Rasharkin’s Shea McFerran had it back to three at half time.
The Rasharkin man had been making an impression in attack and he continued where he had left off as the game got underway again as he split the uprights after 20 seconds and when he raised an Orange flag in the third minute, the sides were level.
The momentum was now with the team in Saffron and they produced another promising attack but Dara Campbell blazed wide when a goal looked on.
It didn’t affect the Casement’s lad, who with his club colleague Tom Convery were more than holding their own in the midfield battle, as he pointed his side ahead from the first time from a free in the 6th minute as the Antrim support roared their approval.
Armagh looked a bit rattled as they kicked a number of wides in quick succession but they were back on level terms when Fiachra Maxwell pointed in the 10th minute.
The hosts were now starting to believe however and Tom Convery edged them back ahead after the lively Joey Griffin was dragged down as he raced in on goal but they then lost Daire Thornbury to injury, with Aodhan O’Hanlon coming on as his replacement.
Colm Kane then replaced Johnny Higgins in the Saffron attack with Shane Toner hitting a fine point for Armagh to level the contest again and Evan McElvenna and Toner again moving the visitors two ahead with 7 minutes remaining.
The home side were not yet finished however and Shea McFerran produced a lung busting run from deep to set up Joey Griffin to leave just one in it again and this one looked like going down to the wire.
McFerran was injured in the build up to Griffin’s score and was replaced by Nathan Burns and it still looked anybody’s game but it was the Orchard who finished the stronger as Evan McElvanna, the superb Shane Toner and Niall Murphy added unanswered points.
It’s been a tough season for Antrim minors and lesser teams would have dropped their heads when results were not going their way but, credit to this group and their management, they have stuck to their guns and have got better and better as the season progressed.
Last week they led Monaghan 0-6 to 0-2 at one stage before going down to a strong Farney side and again today, they have shown glimpses of just what they are capable of and I’ve no doubt we will see quite a number of these players turning out for the seniors in the years ahead.
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