Allianz National Hurling League

Roinn 1 Grúpa B

Antrim 2-25 Westmeath 1-19

Sunday 2 February

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast

What a difference seven days makes.  When Antrim left Croke Park last Saturday evening, there was more questions than answers.  Many of those questions were answered at Corrigan Park.  A nine point win over Westmeath, a score line that probably flattered the visitors to the Whiterock Road such was the performance from those in Saffron.

Nine different scorers with 2-14 from play while James McNaughton put in the type of performance that will live long in the memories of those who roared Antrim on at Corrigan.  1-14 for his 70 plus minutes and I doubt there was an easier decision for man of the match anywhere on the island today.

He had plenty of support however with Nigel and Seaan Elliott, Niall O’Connor and Paddy Burke also excelling.  Defensively, Antrim played with more awareness.  Tactically, they made more of the right decisions with ball in hand, something that Davy Fitzgerald is looking to impose, cultivate and grow.  They did miss a few goal chances, but that would be nit-picking in what was an excellent performance.

The Lake County relied heavily on the accuracy of David Williams from placed ball, 10 of his 12 points coming from frees and the overriding feeling leaving Corrigan was that Westmeath seemed to get their frees somewhat handier than Antrim – especially in the first half.  There was an evident frustration at the lack of consistency with ‘off the ball’ fouls being called by the Galway official, Antrim were penalised on three different occasions while there was a feeling of the visitors getting away with that little bit more at the other end of the pitch.

McNaughton and Nigel Elliott grabbed the goals in the second half, both coming off the back of brilliant passages of play.  Fast, incisive, electric and impossible to defend against.  Westmeath’s major came in the last minute of the 70 thanks to a brilliant free from Jack Gillen.  The visitors ‘keeper with a drilled effort that those on the Saffron line couldn’t keep out.  It mattered little however.

From the first whistle, this was a different Antrim.  They played with an energy, intensity and a directness that was missing against the Dubs.  Three unanswered scores in the opening five minutes from McNaughton (two frees) was just reward for the home sides efforts and when the Loughgiel man took his and Antrim’s tally to four, Westmeath were visibly struggling with the Saffrons attack.

David Williams and Eoin Keyes got the visitors on the scoresheet before Antrim were awarded a penalty.  Conor Johnston felled when through on goal but Gillen denied McNaughton with a smart save.

The Saffrons continued to add to the scoreboard with McNaughton imperious.  By the short whistle, he would finish with 10 points while Eoghan Campbell, Niall O’Connor, Niall McKenna, Seaan Elliott and Conor Johnston all added their names to the list of scorers.

Westmeath started the second half with a bit more fire in their belly and could have had the games first goal seconds after the restart.  Peter Clarke racing through from the throw in but his effort flashed wide.

The second half was seven minutes old before Antrim opened their account, McNaughton’s eighth free of the match while a brilliant move moments later should have yielded Antrim’s first goal.  Seaan Elliott with the finish but it went to the wrong side of the post.

The first goal of the game came in the 45^th minute with McNaughton capitalising on a poor puck out and showing composure before burying the sliotar to the back of the net and open an eight point lead.

Antrim maintained that lead going into the final five minutes with a mixture of McNaughton’s frees and brilliance from Keelan Molloy, Seaan Elliott, Niall O’Connor and Joe Maskey while substitute Joseph McLaughlin was unlucky not to score a second Saffron goal soon after his introduction.

The second major came in the 70^th minute and had the Antrim support purring.  Nigel Elliott collecting the sliotar in midfield before breaking forward.  He played a delayed one-two with Molloy before firing to the back of the net with a brilliant finish.

Westmeath and Gillen found the back of the net moments later but it was too little, too late for the visitors.  This was a win that was every bit as comfortable as the score line suggests, probably more comfortable against a side who have caused Antrim problems in the not-so-distant past.

The show moves to Tullamore next Sunday.

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Gerard Walsh, Paddy Burke, Declan McCloskey; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Nigel Elliott, Niall O’Connor; Paul Boyle, Niall McKenna, Keelan Molloy; Seaan Elliott, James McNaughton, Conor Johnston

Subs: Joe Maskey for G Walsh (57); Eoin O’Neill for P Boyle (60); Ryan McCambridge for N McKenna (60); Joseph McLaughlin for P Burke (65); Ryan McGarry for C Bohill (70)

Scorers: J McNaughton 1-14 (11fs); N Elliott 1-00; N O’Connor 0-2; K Molloy 0-2; S Elliott 0-2; C Johnston 0-2; E Campbell 0-1; N McKenna 0-1; J Maskey 0-1

Westmeath: Jack Gillen; Connor Gaffney, Tommy Doyle, Gary Greville; Johnny Bermingham, Aaron Craig, Eoin Keyes; Éamon Cunneen, Peter Clarke; Robbie Greville, David Williams, Mark Cunningham; Darragh Clinton, Owen McCabe, Shane Williams

Subs: Darragh McCormack for S Williams (43); Rory Keyes for É Cunneen (45); Matthew Cunningham for O McCabe (58); Adam Ennis for A Craig (64)

Scorers: D Williams 0-12 (10fs); D Clinton 0-3; J Gillen 1-00 (1-00 f); E Keyes 0-1; P Clarke 0-1; R Greville 0-1; M Cunningham 0-1

Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)

TO SEE DYLAN’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/SZPN4x7KSk9hsW

Ulster Hurling U20 Cup

Round 1

Antrim 2-24 Derry 0-6

Saturday 1 February

Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Mac Uílín, Ballycastle

Antrim opened their u20 hurling season with an emphatic win over Derry at a cold and windy Ballycastle.  24 points was the difference by the time referee Barry Winters called time at the end of the hour with the foundations for the victory laid in the first half.

Despite playing against a substantial breeze, Mickey McShane’s side held a 10 point lead at the interval as they played with controlled aggression and precision.  The stats will show the Saffrons scoring 2-12 in the second half with an impressive 2-9 coming from open play and all of the six starting forwards getting on the scoresheet, it was a pleasing afternoon for the Saffrons.

Jospeh McLaughlin top scored for Antrim with eight points before coming off with a quarter of the game remaining while Aodhan McGarry’s contribution of seven white flags tells half the story.  McGarry was influential throughout the hour with ball in hand while his work rate was exemplary.

In defence, the Derry attack rarely troubled the Saffrons throughout and despite winning the toss and electing to play with the wind from the first whistle, the young Oak Leafers registered just two pointed frees in the opening 30 minutes.  Odhran McElhinney and Ruairi Beggs did look threatening at different times but the Saffron defence were immense, Niall Magee, Ben O’Kane, Charlie McAuley and Reece Cunning all excelling of Eoghan Richmond who dealt with everything that might have come his way between the sticks.

While the big score is noticeable, the stick work and precision of the Saffrons was impressive throughout.  The style of play and some of the passages leading to scores was excellent, particularly in the second half where it would have been easy to lump the ball long with the wind advantage, if the Saffrons did go long it was more by design and part of the plan.

Goal chances were in scarce supply in the first half but Joseph McLaughlin went close with the first attack but was denied thanks to a last gasp block from Ronan McNamee while Orrin O’Connor brought the best out of Derry ‘keeper, Tom Russel.

Both majors came in the opening 15 minutes of the second half with Orrin O’Connor and substitute Padraig Martin finding the back of Tom Russell’s goals.  O’Connor’s goal coming as a result of some excellent work from Cormac McKeown and while it initially looked like O’Connor had missed the chance, he somehow managed to squeeze the sliotar over the line.

Paudie Martin was barely on the pitch two minutes by the time he added Antrim’s second.  Combining with fellow substitute Oisin McCallin, Martin’s touch was on point while he showed his predatory instincts when presented with the chance.

The young Saffrons are on their travels for the next match as they make the journey down the Ards Penninsula for their second round robin game but given the manner of this victory, they have more than one foot in the Ulster final in four weeks time.

TEAMS

Antrim: Eoghan Richmond; Callagh Mooney, Sean Og Blaney, Reece Cunning; Charlie McAuley, Ben O’Kane, Niall Magee; Oran Donnelly, Calum McIlwaine; Ronan Fitzgerald, Aodhan McGarry, Thomas McLaughlin; Cormac McKeown, Joseph McLaughlin, Orrin O’Connor

Subs: Oisin McCallion for C McKeown (43); Padraig Martin for J McLaughlin (43); Ronan McGarry for O O’Connor (43); Fiontan Bradley for R Fitzgerald (47); Cian O’Connor for B O’Kane (52)

Scorers: J McLaughlin 0-8 (6fs); A McGarry 0-7 (2fs); P Martin 1-1; C McKeown 0-3; O O’Connor 1-00; T McLaughlin 0-2; R Fitzgerald 0-1; N Magee 0-1; C McAuley 0-1

Derry: Tom Russell; Deaglan McNamee, Tiarnan Melaugh, John McGurk; Oisin O’Kane, Ronan McNamee, Cathal Ó Mianáin; James McDaid, Conor Coyle; Charlie Curley, Connor Melaugh, Shea McLaughlin; Ruairi Beggs, Odhran McElhinney, Ben Kealey

Subs: Cathal Quinn for C Curley (HT); Caolan Connery for C Melaugh (HT); Ben McCullagh for S McLaughlin (HT)

To see more pics from the game click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/HEVBn2rYRr9SrS

Scorers: O McElhinney 0-3 (2fs); B Kealey 0-1; R Beggs 0-1; C Coyle 0-1 (1f)

Referee: B Winters (Tyrone)

Allianz Hurling League – Roinn 1b

Antrim v Westmeath

Sunday 2nd February – Time: 2pm

Venue: Corrigan Park, Belfast

Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)

Brendan McTaggart previews the Saffrons league game against Westmeath.

After last Saturday’s defeat to Dublin, Antrim welcome Westmeath to Corrigan Park for Davy Fitzgerald’s first home match in charge.  The 14 point defeat was a chastening experience for the Saffrons under the Croke Park floodlights and 70 minutes they would be keen to put behind them.

It was a case of expecting the unexpected before the sliotar was thrown in with the Antrim manager telling us on numerous occasions that it will take time to implement the plans he has to make the Saffrons more competitive. 

Against the Dubs, we saw exactly what he has in mind.  Niall O’Connor was employed as a sweeper, the middle third resembled like a cattle market given the crowd while the Dubs half had scarce little Saffron jerseys.

It certainly was eye opening to see both Keelan Molloy and James McNaughton playing much of that second half in their own half.  On the face of it, you’d want two of your best forwards in the county playing closer to the opposition goal but it’s part of the plan.  Precision, agility, incisiveness, intelligence and ultimately, clinical when it matters.

Like every process, there’s a beginning and a starting point.  Last Sunday was the Saffrons starting point. 

Fitzy has made three changes from the Dublin starting line up with Gerard Walsh, Seaan Elliott and Conor Johnston all handed a place in the starting 15 with Ryan McGarry, Conor Boyd and Eoin O’Neill missing out.  Walsh and Elliott were both introduced in the second half last Saturday while Johnston, making a return to the inter-county set up, was initially named in the starting 15 but missed out due to a knock picked up during the warm up.

Sunday will be The Lake County’s first competitive match of the year with Storm Éowyn having her wicked way with their Laois fixture.  Limerick native Seoirse Bulfin is now at the helm, taking over from Joe Fortune and Westmeath are a county and team that need no introduction.

Antrim faced Westmeath away in the league last year with the Lake County taking the points on offer.  A Davy Glennon 60^th minute goal giving the scoreline further maroon coloured gloss with a 2-18 to 1-15 final score.  A match that saw the Saffrons travel to Mullingar with just 21 players and looking at the 15 that started that day, just six were reached a starting jersey in Croke Park.

Bulfin has named his 15 and it includes familiar names with the likes of Gary and Robbie Greville, Johnny Bermingham, Owen McCabe and David Williams all needing little or no introduction.  Williams top scored with eight points that day in a wet and windy Cusack Park while Eoin Keyes who is named at wing half back, scored one of their two goals.

Antrim’s status in Division 1b is likely to come down to matches against the likes of Westmeath and Sunday represents a massive opportunity.  A chance to put away the demons of last Sunday, a chance to put away the demons of that match against the Lake County last March and a chance for an Antrim team to put down a marker under the tutelage of Davy Fitzgerald.

Westmeath will travel with plenty of confidence and buoyed by the prospect of playing in competitive action under a new manager.  In a more interesting twist of fate, Bulfin was part of Davy Fitzgerald’s backroom team when he was in charge of both Clare and Wexford.  They won’t need any introductions either.  Let’s get a big crowd out to Corrigan Park, lets get behind the team, our team. 

Antrim starting team: Ryan Elliott; Gerard Walsh, Paddy Burke, Declan McCloskey; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Nigel Elliott, Niall O’Connor; Paul Boyle, Niall McKenna, Keelan Molloy; Seaan Elliott, James McNaughton, Conor Johnston

Westmeath starting team: Jack Gillen; Conor Gaffney, Tommy Doyle, Gary Greville; Johnny Bermingham, Aaron Craig, Eoin Keyes; Éamon Cuneen, Peter Clarke; Robbie Greville, David Williams, Mark Cunningham; Darragh Clinton, Owen McCabe, Shane Williams