Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast
Antrim suffered a 17 point defeat to Kilkenny on Sunday afternoon at a sun kissed Corrigan Park. The Cats purred through the gears from an early stage and had Antrim on the back foot with early goals Martin Keoghan and TJ Reid. Between them, the two Kilkenny stars would score all five of the Cats goals, Keoghan with a first half hat-trick while Reid finished top scorer with 2-10 for his 70 minutes work.
The damage was done in the first half with Derek Lyng’s side ahead by 18 points at the short whistle but Antrim did show much better in the second half. Conal Cunning top scored for the Saffrons with eight points, seven from placed ball while the Antrim majors came from Keelan Molloy, Conor Johnston and Neil McManus.
After a sluggish start where TJ Reid and Keoghan both found the back of Ryan Elliott’s net inside four minutes, Antrim rallied and Keelan Molloy’s major brought Antrim to within three points of the visitors inside the opening 10 minutes but that was as good as it got.
Kilkenny were simply irresistible in the opening 35 minutes where they won next to everything in the middle of the pitch. Antrim struggled to win either puck out and Kilkenny reaped rewards. The movement in their forward six had the Antrim defence pulled asunder with Billy Ryan in particular causing major problems.
In a 15 minute period, Ryan Elliott denied Kilkenny outscored Antrim 0-11 to 0-3 to open an 11 point lead with five minutes of the first half remaining but just like the opening five minutes, the Saffrons were dealt a double blow in the time that remained in the first half. Keoghan’s second was simplicity but spellbinding. Murphy’s puck out to Ryan who was in acres of space and drew the attention of the Antrim defence. He passed to Keoghan and despite Elliott narrowing the angle, Keoghan fired the sliotar to the back of the net. His third major followed with the next attack, the visitors cutting out a short puck-out and Keoghan took advantage to penalise fully.
4-16 to 1-7 made sorry reading on the scoreboard for the big Antrim support in Corrigan at half time. The lack of competitiveness in the middle third was frustrating with Kilkenny’s ability to win primary and secondary possession was suffocating the Antrim challenge. Darren Gleeson seemed to keep the home side in the changing rooms for what felt like an age at half time, you get the feeling there was some soul searching going on but Antrim did come out with a renewed vigour for the restart. Playing more direct ball in top of McManus on the edge of the square, Antrim scored their second goal just two minutes after the restart. Ryan McGarry’s long delivery caught well by Conor Johnston and he had the half yard he needed to get his shot away.
A brace of scores from David Blanchfield and Tom Phelan was the Kilkenny response before Antrim hit back again. A Conal Cunning free preceded a Neil McManus goal in the 42nd minute. Another long ball, this time from Conal Bohill was superbly caught by McManus and after a tussle with Huw Lawlor, he got his shot away to give Eoin Murphy no chance.
A trio of scores from Keelan Molloy, McManus and Gerard Walsh made it 1-4 without reply for the Saffrons as Antrim reduced the Kilkenny lead to 10 points after 11 minutes of the second half.
Kilkenny came to grips with the change in the Antrim tact and kept them scoreless for 10 minutes while scoring seven points unanswered.
The visitors showed their strength in depth with Padraig Walsh, Cillian Buckley, Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan all coming off the bench in the closing stages and their challenge showed no signs of diluting.
Their fifth major came with two minutes of normal time remaining, TJ Reid initially fluffing his lines but pulled on the sliotar while many would have picked the ball into their hand. It caught Elliott off-guard and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
Antrim finished the game well with James McNaughton (two), Niall McKenna, Cunning and Paul Boyle all finding their range to take Antrim’s tally to 3-20 but the Cat’s were on a different level on the day.
Antrim’s next game gets no easier when they travel to Salthill in two week’s time to face a Henry Shefflin inspired Galway. The extra week break will do no harm as they assess their wounded from the opening three matches. Neil McManus had to come off injured and would be a huge loss going into those last two games while Eoghan Campbell, Seaan and Nigel Elliott were also missing from Sundays starting 15.
Mullingar and a ‘cup final’ meeting with Westmeath looms but next up is the small matter of Galway at Salthill in two weeks time.
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Niall O’Connor, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Gerard Walsh, Michael Bradley, Conal Bohill; James McNaughton, Paul Boyle; Keelan Molloy, Conal Cunning, Niall McKenna; Conor Johnston, Neil McManus, Rian McMullan
Subs: Stephen Rooney for M Bradley (35); Domhnall Nugent for N McManus (53); Eoin O’Neill for R McMullan (53); Caolan McKernan for G Walsh (58); Seamie McAuley for K Molloy (64)
Scorers: C Cunning 0-8 (6fs 1’65); K Molloy 1-2; N McKenna 0-4; N McManus 1-1; C Johnston 1-00; J McNaughton 0-2; P Boyle 0-2; G Walsh 0-1
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran; Adrian Mullen, Alan Murphy; Tom Phelan, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody
Subs: Padraig Walsh for T Walsh (43); Cillian Buckley for A Murphy (49); Walter Walsh for T Phelan (54); Richie Hogan for A Mullen (61)
Scorers: TJ Reid 2-10 (6fs 2’65s); M Keoghan 3-2; B Ryan 0-4; E Cody 0-3; A Mullen 0-2; A Murphy 0-2; W Walsh 0-2; E Murphy 0-1 (1f); T Walsh 0-1; D Blanchfield 0-1; R Reid 0-1; T Phelan 0-1; C Buckley 0-1
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Sunday’s Leinster Championship clash with Kilkenny in Corrigan Park…
Antrim’s Leinster Championship odyssey sees the hurling aristocrats from Kilkenny make the journey to the Whiterock Road on Sunday. It will be the second time in three months the Cats will make the journey to Ireland’s second city and the first time under a championship setting.
Sunday is the third game in the Leinster Championship for Darren Gleeson’s men with a draw against Dublin preceding a narrow defeat in the ‘Sunny South East’ against Wexford. One point from a possible four but more than a hint of disappointment that there isn’t more on the board.
Kilkenny’s David Blachfield and Antrim’s Eoghan Campbell during the league meeting between the sides back in February.
Dublin was a game that Antrim should have won and it took a late point from Donal Burke to rescue a share of the spoils for the Dubs. Last weekend was a familiar tale for the Saffrons however where they suffered for starting slow and were faced with an uphill task in Wexford Park. That being said, the home side were watching the clock as the Saffrons finished strongly and with a number of goal chances coming and going, you get the feeling that it was an opportunity missed.
Onto Sunday and a meeting with hurling royalty on Coronation Day – tongue firmly in cheek with that statement. Derek Lyng’s first league match in charge of Kilkenny was at Corrigan Park in late February where he found out a little about hurling and the weather in west Belfast at that time of year. The wind swirled, the rain teemed and sticks flew. In fairness, both sides struggled with the elements that day but for Antrim they had a rueful look on their faces as they left the Corrigan Park surface. A six point win at the end of 70 plus minutes and a scoreline that flattered the Cats. Debutant Billy Drennan proving to be the difference with seven of his 1-8 coming from frees and as he’s proved since in league and championship, he’ll take some looking after on Sunday.
Antrim free taker Conal Cunning in action during league meeting with Kilkenny back on Februarty 4th
Derek Lyng has named the strongest team possible for Sunday’s encounter with on social media calling it the strongest team he has named this year. There’s certainly a marked difference between the 15 named to start on Sunday and that which started in late February. The Shamrocks (Ballyhale) contingent missed out for much for the league with TJ Reid’s first game in the black and amber of 2023 coming in their first match against Westmeath and he is joined by clubmates Darragh Corcoran, Eoin Cody, Richie Reid and Adrian Mullen in the starting line up. In total, Lyng has retained just six players from that game in February: Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, David Blanchfield, Billy Drennan, Martin Keoghan and Billy Ryan with the likes of Cillian Buckley, Padraig Walsh, Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan on the bench. It’s fair to say the Cat’s aren’t taking the challenge of Darren Gleeson’s men lightly.
In a run of consecutive championship matches at this level, injuries are always a possibility and it’s become a reality for Antrim. Nigel Elliott is ruled out with a foot injury sustained against Dublin while his brother Seaan had to come off against Wexford and remains a doubt along with Eoghan Campbell. The Antrim Captain also came off against Wexford with a foot injury that was certainly causing him severe discomfort and it will be a huge loss for the Saffrons if they have to go into Sunday’s game without their influential centre half. Sunday may also come too early for Niall McKenna as he continues his return from injury.
Paddy Burke has been a tower of strenght in the Antrim defence all season
With an extra week to recover from this run of games to follow, Antrim will be looking at that favourably with the game against Galway in Salthill their next fixture. A win on Sunday and in Salthill will have us dreaming of going to Mullingar with a place in the Leinster Final on the line instead of our fate in the Leinster Championship but lets not get ahead of ourselves. Sunday’s game is about the biggest game Antrim have had in our own county for generations.
You’ll have to go back to 1943 where Antrim defeated Galway in the quarter-final and Kilkenny in the semi-final of the All-Ireland. Both hugely unexpected victories at that time, 80 years on wouldn’t it be great to write another piece of history against hurling aristocracy?
The weather may not be much better on Sunday to what it was in February, the ground will be a little harder but the Saffron challenge you can be sure will remain the same. They go into Sunday as huge underdogs but the bookies have been wrong before….
Antrim’s James McNaughton in action during the National League game against Kilkenny back in February. James is a direct link with the Antrim team who beat Kilkenny in the All Ireland semi-final 80 years ago, on August 1st 1943 at Corrigan Park. His great uncle Paddy McGarry (5th from left in the middle row of the photo above) was right half back on the team.
When they last met….
Allianz Hurling League – Division 1b
Antrim 0-15 Kilkenny 1-18
Saturday 4 February
Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast
The one that got away. Antrim took on the might of Kilkenny in a wind swept Corrigan Park on Saturday afternoon and by the final whistle, the overriding emotion is one of regret. This one was there for the taking against the Cats and the look of disappointment on faces as the Saffrons trudged off the Whiterock Road pitch said it all.
Trailing by four at half time with the wind not only increasing in speed but also dramatically changing direction, the hurling Gods looked to have smiled favourably on Darren Gleeson’s men. Antrim had the benefit of playing with the wind in both halves of this Allianz League Division One encounter but they couldn’t take advantage.
In fairness, they came up against a team who were led superbly by Padraig Walsh at the heart of their defence while Huw Lawlor and captain Cillian Buckley also shone. The Cat’s retention of possession and ability to find a man coming off the shoulder was that little bit better than the Saffrons over the 70 minutes and was a major factor in deciding where the league points went to by the full time whistle…
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Niall O’Connor, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; Joe Maskey, Michael Bradley; Niall McKenna, Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton; Conal Cunning, Neil McManus, Eoin O’Neill
Subs: Phelim Duffin for N O’Connor (HT); Seaan Elliott for E O’Neill (HT); Conor Johnston for J Maskey (43); Paul Boyle for K Molloy (65)
Kilkenny’s John Donnelly with his Antrim cousins after the league game back in February. The big Thomastown man will be back in Corrigan again on Sunday when he wears the No. 11 black and amber shirt
Scorers: C Cunning 0-8 (8fs); N McKenna 0-2; P Burke 0-1; C Bohill 0-1; K Molloy 0-1; J McNaughton 0-1; N McManus 0-1
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Niall Power; Cillian Buckley, Padraig Walsh, David Blanchfield; Paddy Deegan, John Donnelly; Walter Walsh, Cian Kenny, Paul Cody; Billy Drennan, Martin Keoghan, Billy Ryan
Subs: Shane Murphy for P Cody (HT); Tom Phelan for C Kenny (63); Alan Murphy for W Walsh (68)
Scorers: B Drennan 1-8 (7fs); M Keoghan 0-4; P Cody 0-2; A Tallis 0-1 (1f); P Walsh 0-1; J Donnelly 0-1; W Walsh 0-1
Feile champions Cushendall’s ability to take their scores was the deciding factor in their emphatic win over St Paul’s in Tuesday evening win over St Paul’s at Pairc Mhuir Cushendall on Tuesday evening.
It turned out to be a one sided affair on the scoreboard as the Shaw’s Road boys struggled to find the target, despite having plenty of possession, especially in the second half and as one of the Cushendall supporters said the after the game, ‘the one sided nature of the scoreboard was not reflected in the amount of possession both teams had.’
Cushendall’s Connlaodh McNaughton turns away after scoring his team’s third goal
Three points in as many minutes from centre forward Cahir McNaughton, one from Nicholas McLaughlin were followed by a goal from McCambridge who gave the St Paul’s goalkeeper no chance from close range. Cushendall had 1-11 on the scoreboard before Brendan McMorrow had St Paul’s first score on 21 minutes, despite having an abundance of chances, and they were punished for their wayward shooting and Cushendall’s Connlaodh McNaughton got his second goal as they raced to a 2-15 to 0-2 point half time lead..
St Paul’s Oisin Cussack in action against Cushendall
Points from Brendan McMorrow and James McDonnell got St Paul’s off to a good start in the second half and they were having as much possession as their neighbours. However their shooting kept letting them down and when Connlaodh McNauhton got his team’s third goal it was all but over. St Paul’s kept plugging away and their excellent full back Oisin Cussack landed two very good points.
However Nicholas McLaughlin and Cahir McNaughton kept picking off the points as they kept their unbeaten record intact.
DIVISION 0NE ROUND-UP
In the other games played on Tuesday evening in Division 1 Glenarrife- Glenravel beat Ard na Ri by 5-11 to 3-12, Dunloy beat Sarsfields by 7-8 to 4-14 at the Bear Pit, while Ballycastle beat Davitt’s by 5-10 to 3-7 at Pairc MacUillin.
DIVISION 2
In Division 2 Shane O’Neill’s beat Dunloy’s seconds 5-15 to 4-11 at Feystown, Rossa beat Cloney Gaels by 4-12 to 1-6 at Rossa Park, Lamh Dhearg beat St Paul’s 2nds by 8-16 to 2-6 at Hannahstown, Naomh Padraig beat Loch Mor Dál gCais at Crumlin Leisure Centre, while St John’s beat Naomh Ulcan at Creggan.
CUSHENDUN EMMET’S B 1-21 DUNLOY CUCHULLIAN’s B 2-9
CUBBY’S class fired the Emmet’s second-string side to an impressive North Antrim JHL second victory of the season.
Roving full forward, Eoin ‘Cubby’ Magee had the final say with a slick point on the closing whistle – and shared top marksman honour for the vastly improved local B team with flying winger Fintan McQuillan.
The front runners, ignited by some power play from centre forward Dominic Sharkey lifted the gloomy misty evening at The Riggs.
It was far from one-way traffic for the budding Emmet’s, enjoying an overdue first season of competition, as Dunloy’s second side also featured a number of clever young prospects.
Surprisingly, this midweek encounter surpassed all expectations with an overall display of immensely entertaining fast paced, first time hurling, intelligent running off the ball and quicksilver finishing. It was combat deserving of recognition.
Some of the Dunloy lads especially produced crisp rising side line cuts and a couple of splendid goals – the first on seven minutes by corner forward Eoin O’Kane. His rasping volley caught the home defence cold.
What was novel in the modern context of the native game was a mild return of emphasis to old fashioned ground hurling.
Indeed, the clash of the ash was none more emphasized than a pull by Dunloy’s solid half back Hugh Hyndman – emerging from a crunch clash with his caman in smithereens!
Back to the adventures of Cubby, who must have impressed the Emmet’s senior team management.
His goal in the 17th minute was sheer magic – a solo sprint down the right channel and facing the sea. He blazed in to fire a left-handed volley across goalkeeper Paul Doherty and high into the corner of the net.
Moments later, Dunloy launched a menacing attack with home full back Archie McSparran brilliantly blocking a stinging drive by
Conall Elliottt, the ball spinning past for a ’65’
The resultant free was delivered by centre half Francis McMullan, the sliotar sailing through a crowded goalmouth and into the net.
Cushendun’s young prospects maintained focus to nick a string of points, quality scores – using the shortened stick by Thomas Scally, Pearse Bannon, Fintan McQuillan and the inimitable Cubby.
There were also fascinating individual duels such as Dunloy’s corner forward Conal Elliott against tenacious local defender Michael McHugh. The Cuchullian’s also sported other young potential seniors such as goalkeeper Paul Doherty and lanky Ryan Mort. Late in the action Cuchuillins mustered a go-for-goal push that was suitably repelled by clever goalkeeper Euan McSparran and dogged defenders McHugh, Archie McSparran and the ever improving Conrad Duffin.
EMMET’S:-Euan McSparran; Michael McHugh, Archie McSparran, Conrad Duffin;
Declan McKernan, Andrew Breslin, Pearse McKeegan; Thomas Scally and Aidan McSparran;
Pierce Bannon, Dominic Sharkey, John V Morgan; Fintan McQuillan, Eoin Magee, Michael Dunne.
Subs:-Steven McNeill for Scally (43), Ciaran Magee for McQuillan (52),
Scorers:-E Magee (1-5), F McQuillan (0-8), T Scally (0-4),
P Bannon (0-3), Aidan McSparran (0-1),
CUCHULLIAN’S:-Paul Doherty; Rory Martin, Michael Traynor, Niall McIlhatton;
Hugh Hyndman, Francis McMullan, Joseph Magee;
Peter McQuillan and Ryan Mort; Sean McAleese, Chris Brogan, Darragh Watterson;
Eoin O’Kane, Daithi Cree, Conail Elliott.
Subs:- Ryan McGowan for Cree (48), Dan Dickson for McAleese (52),
Scorers:- E O’Kane (1-1), F McMullan (1-1),
C Elliott (0-3), C Brogan (0-3), H Hyndman (0-1)..
