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.

Antrim had their own stand out performers, also in defence.  Ryan McGarry excelled on the edge of his own square, especially in the first half while Eoghan Campbell was in the thick of everything in the next line up.  Paddy Burke was Antrim’s stand-out performer overall however.  Solid defensively and broke the black and amber lines on numerous occasions looking to create chances for an Antrim forward unit that had an immense battle on their hands to get any kind of freedom against a water-tight Kilkenny defence.

Conal Cunning top scored for the Saffrons with 0-8 beside his name, all coming from placed ball while the next best from play was Niall McKenna’s total of two points.  League debutant Billy Drennan finished with 1-8 for the Cat’s, seven frees within his total and his accuracy from placed ball despite the troublesome elements always gave Derek Lyng’s men a degree of control. 

When analysing this game, Antrim will look at a 15 minute period in the second half when they had the Cat’s rattled.  Despite scoring three points, they hit a number of wides and didn’t make the most of their chances.  At a time when Kilkenny were struggling with the intensity Antrim were bringing, they were thankful for a number of dubious refereeing decisions that went their way and left the Saffron management seething. 

The Cat’s saw off the Saffron storm and acclimatised to the wind and rain as the half progressed with Drennan’s frees pivotal.  They scored the last four points of the game to give the scoreboard a deceiving if not flattering outlook in their favour by the time the full time whistle was sounded.

The Saffrons looked nervous in the opening exchanges, despite James McNaughton’s early score.  The Loughgiel man showing his class and turn of pace before splitting the uprights.  The 2022 All-Ireland finalists go the score board ticking with a long range free taken by ‘keeper Aidan Tallis.

Conal Cunning fired over a brace of frees either side of scores from Padraig Walsh and Paul Cody.  The Cat’s were looking dangerous in attack which wasn’t helping the Saffron nerves.  Cian Kenny bringing a top drawer save from Ryan Elliott after a loose pass in the Antrim defence.  The sliothar was recycled and John Donnelly split the upright to put three between the sides before Kilkenny scored the only goal of the game.  Kenny with the assist despite the attentions of the Antrim defence, finding Drennan on the run and in acres of space.  He fired low and to the bottom corner to put daylight between the sides.

The goal sparked a response from Antrim as they hit three of the next four points.  A pair of frees from Cunning and a great score from Conal Bohill coming with a Drennan free the only response for the visitors.

Paul Cody and Drennan (free) fired over for Kilkenny in quick time before superb points from Neil McManus and Niall McKenna left Drennan’s goal between the sides.  Kenny had another look at Elliott’s goal as he intercepted a poor pass in the Antrim defence but with the Antrim goal at his mercy, he fired wide with Walter Walsh firing over soon after to put four between the sides with five minutes of the half remaining.

McKenna and Martin Keoghan swapped scores before the half time whistle to leave Kilkenny ahead 1-10 to 0-9 at the interval.

Antrim made changes at half time with Seaan Elliott and Phelim Duffin coming in for Eoin O’Neill and Niall O’Connor.  With the dark clouds hanging low and rain pouring, the wind switched to favour Antrim.  An astonishing turnaround, even by Corrigan Park standards and with Antrim trailing by four, they would have fancied their chances of eating into the Kilkenny lead.

Cunning and Drennan swapped frees in a gritty opening that saw both sides struggle with the elements.  Another Drennan free put five between the sides but that would be the last Kilkenny score for 12 minutes as Antrim turned the screw.  They found another level of intensity in the middle third and kept the pressure on the visiting defence with scores coming from Keelan Molloy, Paddy Burke and a Cunning free.  It could and should have been better however such was the wave of attacks and momentum heavily in the Saffrons favour.

The two point deficit was as close as they came to the Cat’s as Kilkenny began to adjust.  Drennan (two) and Cunning swapped frees to leave three between the sides going into the last ten minutes of the game.

Cunning’s eighth free of the game came in the 63^rd minute but was ultimately Antrim’s last score of the hour.  Kilkenny’s better use of the sliothar shone in the closing stages with Martin Keoghan (three) and Drennan all finding the target in the time that remained.

Ultimately it was another reminder of how harsh Division One hurling can be for the Saffrons who could easily have recorded an opening day win.  As it is however, they travel to Parnell Park next Sunday and a meeting with the Dubs.

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)

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 Powey; 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

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)

Danske Bank Foresters Cup Hurling  – Pound Robin

Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock 0-11 St Killian’s Garron Tower 0-11

A late point in the third minute of injury time by Colla Ward earned St Killian’s a share of the spoils in Friday’s Dankse Bank Foresters Cup round robin game against Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock at Ulster University Jordanstown.

Level at half time on 0-6 apiece the Knock boys appeared to have gained the upper hand in the second half and were two clear with just ten minutes of the second half remaining. However they managed just one more point in the remaining ten minutes, and while St Killian’s were far from proficient, top scorer Oran McCambridge clawed on back from a free before Ward snatched a share of the spoils at the death.

St Killian’s had the better of things in the early minutes and went 0-2 to 0-0 ahead after eleven minutes, the first one from a free and the second one from Ward from play. It looked it was going to be more when McCambridge cut in on goal, but the Knock goalkeeper Mark Guest made a point blank save and when it was cleared to the other end of the field Ben Teggart opened their scoring from a free. Teggart brought his team level on 19 minutes, but Oran McCambridge edged the Tower back in front a minute later, as the pace picked up a bit Ronan Donnelly levelled matters up again, only to see Joe McKay give the Tower back the lead.

An excellent point from Liam Blaney tied things up again and Conor Boyle put Knock back ahead, but in an exciting finish to the half two more fines strikes from Oran McCambridge frees, were answered by one from Frank Kane to see the side deadlocked at the break on six points apiece.

Liam Blaney took advantage of a poor clearance by a St Killian’s defender to put Knock back in front early in the second half, but McCambridge split the uprights from two more frees inside the next ten minutes. There was another exchange of points between the two sides to keep north Antrim school ahead but two points from Blaney and one from O’Connell put the Knock side two in front and apparently on course for the win. Another McCambridge point from a free left just one in it, and with the Knock defence playing out of their skinks it looked like they would hold on.

That result looked even more likely when Ward missed a chance from close range in injury time, but the midfielder never gave up the fight and tied things up with the last puc of the game to keep both sides on course for a place in the knock-out stages.

Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Antrim’s National League opener with Kilkenny at Corrigan Park

Antrim v Kilkenny

Date: Saturday 4 February

Venue: Corrigan Park, Belfast

Throw in: 2pm

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)

And so, the odyssey begins once more as Darren Gleeson leads Antrim into the National League.  Trips to Dublin, Waterford and home ties against Laois and Tipperary but before all that, there’s the small matter of Saturday’s game with Kilkenny.

The first time since 2009 that the Cats have made the journey up the M1 and a first for the Black and Amber to grace Corrigan Park since 1943.  It would make Saturday’s opening game of the National League quite significant.

Kilkenny will need little if any introduction.  All-Ireland Finalists last year, they come to Belfast with an aura of hurling royalty.  After Brian Cody stepped down at the end of the last county season, Derek Lyng has made the step up from coaching the Cat’s U20s to All-Ireland success in 2022.  Lyng has mighty big shoes to try and fill by being the replacement for Cody, given what he achieved in his 24 year tenure but his appointment was an astute move by Kilkenny with an eye on the future.

Having survived a relegation playoff last year to stay in Division One, Antrim will be looking to make more progress and reaffirm their status in the big league.  Last year was a rollercoaster ride where the Saffrons could have easily avoided the nervy tie with Offaly.  Chances going against Waterford, Dublin and Laois that on another day could have seen Gleeson’s men with six points.  If Antrim are to show their progression under Gleeson, they will have to begin to change ‘good performances’ into points on the board.  No one will know that better than the straight-talking Darren Gleeson who is famed for his dislike of looking at silver linings in the face of defeat.

The Walsh Cup campaign wasn’t much to be writing home about if truth be told.  An improved performance in Parnell Park against Dublin preceded a disappointing display against Westmeath in Abbotstown and an indifferent game against Galway in Darver.  In a schedule where there isn’t much room for manoeuvrer, Antrim need to find some confidence and momentum to hit the ground running.  It wasn’t there in the Walsh Cup.

That being said, the Antrim management team were missing the talents from Dunloy due to their involvement in the All-Ireland Club final.  News coming from the camp suggests there is seven returning to the Saffron fold, Conal Cunning, Keelan Molloy, Ryan McGarry, Ryan Elliott, Phelim Duffin, Seaan Elliott and his brother, Nigel.  Elliott had been instrumental in Dunloy’s championship wins in Antrim and Ulster while starring against St Thomas’ in the All Ireland semi-final.  He will be a welcome return to the panel, thought to be next weeks game against Dublin but how many of the rest of the Dunloy contingent will be involved on Saturday against Kilkenny remains to be seen.  Given the split league and the lack of any downtime for any players who are successful with their club, Saturday’s game may come a week too soon for the Cuchullains to be involved.

One player who will be missing however is Aaron Crawford who continues his recovery from a shoulder injury sustained against St Thomas for Dunloy.  He will be joined in the treatment room with Ciaran Clarke, Conor McCann and Domhnall Nugent who all have long term injuries.

Having played in the Walsh and McGurk Cup’s, Loughgiel’s Damon McMullan’s return has been curtailed.  Having missed all of last season with club and county, it has since transpired that McMullan’s shoulder hasn’t healed as desired and he faces another long period on the sideline. Saturday will be the first of two home games against Kilkenny with Antrim’s involvement in a full Leinster Championship campaign later in the year.  In what promises to be a mouth-watering year of hurling for the Saffrons, they don’t come much bigger than the challenge of the hurling aristocracy from Kilkenny but as they have shown in the past, Antrim will relish the challenge of facing the likes of Derek Lyng’s men as they continue to prove their

The Kilkeny team who were beaten by Wexford in their last outing in the Walsh Cup two weeks ago was

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Mikey Butler, Evan Cody, Niall Rowe; David Blanchfield, Pádraic Moylan, Pádraig Walsh; Paddy Deegan, Shane Murphy; Paul Cody, Cian Kenny, Tom Phelan; Gearóid Dunne, John Donnelly (0-1), Niall Brassil.

Subs: Cillian Buckley for Blanchfield (41), Cillian Doyle for Murphy (43), Shane Walsh for Dunne (49), Niall Brennan for Kenny (52), Des Dunne for Moylan (54), Ian Byrne for Phelan (58), Billy Sheehan for Brassil (59), Colum Prendiville for P. Cody (66), Niall Mullins for Donnelly (68).

Danske Bank Ulster Schools Hurling – Foresters Cup

St Killian’s 3-9 – St Pat’s Maghera 2-8

Foresters Cup holders St Killian’s had to dig themselves out of a massive hole in their opening game of this year’s competition when they came from six points down early in the game to beat Maghera on the Allen Park 4G pitch on Tuesday afternoon.

St Pat’s, who had lost their opening game to Knock at the same venue last Friday, appeared to be in control when they took a 2-3 to 1-0 lead early in the game, both goals coming from their towering full forward Jack McCloy. A pointed free from corner forward Joe McKay helped St Killian’s to settle a bit, but a Gabhan McIvor point at the other end kept the Maghera boys in control.

Garron Tower was handed a lifeline when full forward Michael Furey kicked the ball to the Maghera net and when McKay added another point from a free the gap was back to three by the time Owen Elliott sounded his half time whistle the gap was back to three. (2-7 to 1-4)

When Cahal McKeague landed the first point of the second half to increase the Maghera lead to four they appeared to be in charge again, but their scoring dried up at this stage and slowly but surely St Killians began to close the gap. A series of pointed frees by Oran McMcCambridge began to close the gap and when midfielder Calum McIlwaine fired in his team’s third goal, they were in front for the first time. McCambride added two more from frees and then set up centre back Callagh Mooney for one from play they were in charge.

ST KILLIAN’S

Cahir McNaughton, Conor McCann, John Scullion, James Kearney, Charlie McAuley Callagh Mooney, Alex McCambridge, Colla Ward, Calum McIlwaine, Orin McCambridge, Daire Higgins, Aodhan Campbell, Joe McKay, Michael Furey, Fintan McKillop

ST PAT’S

Anthony Magill, Phelim Og Diamond, Conor Melaugh, Padraig O’Kane, Charlie Friel, Fiachra Turner, Colum Friel, Torlough McHugh, Kevin Mullan, Gabhan McIvor, Cahal McKeigue, Cillian McEldowney, Donnach Colgan, Jack Mccloy, Rian Collins

REFEREE – Owen Elliott (All Saints)