Tailteann Cup, Quarter Final
ANTRIM 3-15-2-19 WICKLOW
Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park
ANTRIM surrendered a nine-point advantage they had built up within four minutes of the restart as Wicklow battled back to defeat the Saffrons 2-19-3-15 in their Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final clash at Corrigan Park on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan McQuillan’s first half goal had helped the hosts to a slender 1-7-0-9 at the break, but early second half goals from Tiernan McCormack and Paddy McAleer had their side in a commanding 3-9-0-9 lead.
Oisin McGraynor responded with a goal, however Antrim could have moved 11-points clear with a penalty that Wicklow keeper Mark Jackson saved along with the rebound from Conor Hand.
Thereafter it was the visitors who largely controlled the scoring, finding the net for the second time through Eoin Darcy after John McNabb had saved his initial penalty.
Antrim looked to have stemmed the tide with three unanswered points, but Wicklow fought back level and won it with a Dean Healy point in the 70th minute and Antrim were unable to respond before the hooter as their season came to a shattering end.
The Saffrons were ahead within two minutes after Pat Shivers laid the ball off to Conor Hand to kick over the opener on home soil.
However, the hosts were penalised for a breech and Wicklow goalkeeper Mark Jackson kicked the two-pointed opportunity over.
It was from the placed ball that Oisin McGraynor extended his sides lead, though Conor Hand levelled things up with a two-pointed effort from the edge of the arc.
Antrim regained the lead through a Ryan McQuillan shot that dropped over, wiith Dean Healy restoring parity just shy of the midway point in the half.
Late replacement Eunan Walsh shot his side back in front in what was the last score ofr eight minutes of play.
Wicklow thought they had forged ahead again when Dean Healy finished to the net, but referee Thomas Murphy ajudged the midfielder to have overcarried.
Healy didn’t let that disappointment affect him and after linking up with midfield partner Jack Kirwan, he steered a tw0-pointed attempt over the bar.
The visitors hit the front almost instantly when Tom Moran made a blindsided run forward and opted for a fisted score.
A minute shy of the half hour mark a Tiernan McCormack dipping shot crashed off the underside of the bar and it was a warning that Wicklow didn’t heed as Antrim found the games opening goal in the 31st minute.
John McNabb’s quick kick out was gathered by Tiernan McCormack and his floated pass was patted down by Joseph Finnegan into the path of Ryan McQuillan, the Con Magee’s forward carried the ball forward and rounded Mark Jackson before sliding his low effort to the net to make it 1-6-0-7.
In response Padraig O’Toole shot over and it looked as though the sides wouldn’t be separated at the break when Dean Healy fisted over from Eoin Darcy’s pass on the stroke of half time.
It was Antrim who would hold a slender advantage at the break though when Niall Burns guided a shot over the bar to give his side a 1-7-0-9 lead.
Antrim settled into the second period well with Paddy McAleer helping Pat Shivers high dropping ball over the bar and better was to come when Dominic McEnhill’s dropping shot was touched to the net by Tiernan McCormack to move his side 2-8-0-9 ahead.
Momentum was very much with Mark Doran’s men as Marc Jordan gathered a dropping McEnhill free and shot over on the turn and by the 41st minute it was 2-2 without reply as Paddy McAleer slammed home following a neat interchange with Eoghan McCabe it make it 3-9-0-9.
A common theme of Antrim’s season was their ability to surrender from positions of strength and the first sign of that came in the 44th minute when Oisin McGraynor cut inside and shot in off the post to reduce arrears by a third.
Antrim did reply with a McEnhill two-pointer from play and had the chance to surge further clear when Niall Burns rounded Mark Jackson and was clipped, with referee Murphy awarding a penalty.
In form Conor Hand was given the responsibility and Wicklow keeper Jackson guessed the right way and produced a fine follow-up stop to deny Hand again.
Antrim would remain scoreless until the 57th minute after that as Wicklow hit four unanswered points.
Eoin Darcy converted a free, Padraig O’Toole clipped, Eoin Murtagh’s attempt dropped between the posts and a fisted Kevin Quinn point had the Garden County back to within four (3-11-1-13).
A much needed Tiernan McCormack point was brief respite as Wicklow were awarded a penalty less than 60-seconds later with Jonathan Carlin fouled after receiving a lay-off from Jack Kirwan.
Eoin Darcy stepped up and although John McNabb stopped the initial effort his his feet, Darcy was quickest to react and powered the rebound to the net to make it 3-12-2-13.
The bare minimum separated the sides after Padraig O’Toole kicked a point under pressure, but Antrim appeared to have stemmed the tide with three unanswered points.
A high Pat Shivers shot dropped over, Shivers then swung a free inside the posts and Niall Burns doubled his account with a fisted point.
In between Shivers free and Burns point, Dean Healy’s stinging shot crashed off the bar and tailed wide.
Antrim’s four point deficit was halved when goalkeeper Mark Jackson came up and kicked his second two-pointed free of the afternoon.
A close range McGraynor free left a point between the sides again and incredibly Oisin McConville’s side pulled level when Kevin Quinn fisted over with less than two minutes remaining.
The pendulum had firmly shifted and with less than 60-seconds remaining Wicklow led for the first time since the 31st minute as Dean Healy twisted and turned before popping over.
There was a last chance to save the day but time elapsed as Pat Shivers shot dropped short and hooter blew as Wicklow celebrated a terrific fightback and it is they who will make the trip to Croke Park for the semi finals next weekend.
ANTRIM: J McNabb, J Morgan, J Finnegan, K Keenan, E McCabe, E Walsh (0-1), M Jordan (0-1), P McAleer (1-1), C Hand (0-4, 1×0-2pt), T McCormack (1-1), R McQuillan (1-1), R Boyle, P Shivers (0-2, 0-1f), N Burns (0-2), D McEnhill (1×0-2pt). SUBS: T McCann for R Boyle (56), A Loughran for R McQuillan (56), C Hynds for D McEnhill (64), T Shivers for P McAleer (68).
WICKLOW: M Jackson (2×0-2ptf), T Moran (0-1), M Nolan, M Stone, D Fox, E Murtagh (0-1), G Fogarty, D Healy (0-5, 1×0-2pt), J Kirwan, J Carlin, P O’Toole (0-3), C O’Brien, O McGraynor (1,2,0-2f), K Quinn (0-1), E Darcy (1-1, 0-1f). SUBS: C Deering for G Fogarty (46), J Prendergast for J Murtagh (64), M Kenny for D Fox (68).
REFEREE: Thomas Murphy (GALWAY)
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