Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Cuchullains recover to defeat Shamrocks

Antrim Hurling League – Division One

Dunloy 0-25 Loughgiel 3-14

Wednesday 28 May

Brendan McTaggart reports from Healy Park, Loughgiel

Loughgiel and Dunloy put on a show for the large crowd at Healy Park on Wednesday evening where there wasn’t a quarter spared.  It was the visitors who took away the league points on offer with two between the sides at the final whistle but this was a contest that really could have gone either way.

It was Dunloy’s second half performance and a purple patch in particular that saw the Cuchullains score 11 points in the space of 15 minutes with just a solitary free from Shan McGrath the response from the Shamrocks that ultimately was the winning of the game.

The home side’s ability to create goal chances meant they were always within touching distance.  Two first half goals from Paul Boyle and Rian McMullan were added to by a 53rd minute major from a Christy McGarry penalty – McMullan’s first half performance a serious highlight for the Shamrocks with ‘Bubbles’ 1-5 of his overall 1-6 in the opening half an hour.

For the Cuchullains, they had 10 different scorers throughout and it was Nicky McKeague who once again shone.  He would raise 13 white flags, three of those from play while Tom McFerran chipped in with four points from open play.

While they rarely looked like carving the Shamrock defence apart and scoring majors, the Cuchullains ability to retain possession and find the man in space proved to be the difference.

Loughgiel found the opening two scores of the game from Shan McGrath and McMullan before a brace of scores came from Tom McFerran for the Cuchullains – those coming from either side line and a sign of what was to come from both teams with this being an hour of some excellent scores.

McKeague’s first free of the match edged his side ahead before scores from Darragh Patterson and McMullan had the home side ahead by the minimum.

The Cuchullains half back line began to take an element of control on the game and would keep Loughgiel scoreless for 12 minutes while adding a further five points themselves.  Luke McFerran, Padraig Martin, Tom McFerran, Ryan Mort and McKeague (free) giving the Cuchullains a four point lead.

McMullan and Shan McGrath would fire over for the Shamrocks either side of McKeague’s third of the half and first from play before Loughgiel scored their first goal of the game.  It came in the 26th minute and owed much to the persistence of Rian McMullan more than anything as twice he was denied by Eoghan Richmond in the Dunloy goals before finally pulling on the sliotar to find the back of the net.  It was an incredible double save from the Dunloy netminder but McMullan wasn’t to be denied to give his side the lead.

A brace of McKeague points either side of McMullan’s fifth point of the half left the sides tied on 1-8 to 0-11 in injury time but it was Loughgiel who finished the half with a flourish.

A tidy score from Dan McCloskey was followed by their second major from Paul Boyle.  Capitalising on the Cuchullains defence out of position, Boyle stole through and despite the best efforts of Richmond, managed to squeeze the sliotar over the line with the last meaningful action of the half.

Loughgiel holding a four point lead at half time started the second half on top with a brace of points from McMullan and McGrath (free) and while they wouldn’t register another score for 11 minutes, Dunloy fired over eight points in that same time. 

Scores coming from substitute Keelan Molloy, Ciaran Elliott, Ben O’Kane, Aodhan McGarry and four from McKeague (two ‘65’s, one free) before McGrath’s third free of the match and fourth white flag overall left the home side trailing by the minimum with the score line 0-19 to 2-12 with a quarter of the game remaining.

Three pointed frees in as many minutes from McKeague extended the Dunloy advantage further before Loughgiel were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute.  McGrath made a rampaging run before he was unceremoniously upended by Kevin Molloy with substitute Christy McGarry firing the sliotar to the back of the net.

Dunloy’s radar seemed to have left them with the home side playing with more swagger at the death and but for the brilliance of Richmond, Roan McGarry could have added a fourth goal for the Shamrock’s.  Christy McGarry would point the resulting ’65 in the second minute of injury time to leave the sides tied.

It was the Cuchullains who finished with a bit more composure however with Kevin Molloy and Tom McFerran firing over at the death.

This quickly turned into a game not for the faint of heart with referee Tarlach Conway needing eyes on the back of his head at times with tackles coming hard and fast.  There’ll be plenty of sore bodies in the morning either side of the sheugh but for now, it’s the Cuchullains who have the bragging rights.

TEAMS

Loughgiel: John Francis Connolly; Rory McCloskey, Enda Og McGarry, Damon McMullan; Conall McCloskey, Declan McCloskey, Caolan Blair; Ryan McKee, Darragh Patterson; Rian McMullan, Daniel McCloskey, Shan McGrath; Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Jack McCloskey

Subs: Ruairi McCormick for D McMullan (HT); Liam Glackin for D McCloskey (38); Eoin McGarry for J McCloskey (46); Christy McGarry for R McKee (49); Ben McGarry for S McGrath (46)

Scorers: R McMullan 1-6; S McGrath 0-4 (3f); P Boyle 1-1; C McGarry 1-1 (1-0 pen, 1’65); D Patterson 0-1; D McCloskey 0-1

Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Eoin McFerran, Ryan McGarry, Oran Quinn; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Ben O’Kane; Ciaran Elliott, Aodhan McGarry; Ryan Mort, Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Padraig Martin, Luke McFerran, Anton McGrath

Subs: Keelan Molloy for E Smyth (4); Eoin O’Neill for P Martin (29)

Scorers: N McKeague 0-13 (8fs 2’65’s); T McFerran 0-4; Kevin Molloy 0-1; B O’Kane 0-1; C Elliott 0-1; A McGarry 0-1; R Mort 0-1; P Martin 0-1; L McFerran 0-1; Keelan Molloy 0-1

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Ballinascreen)

by thesaffrongael

Og’s withstand late rally to take the points

ACHL Division 2

Tir na nOg 2-16 Kickham’s 3-11

Tir na nog, Randalstown withstood a late rally from neighbours, Kickham’s Creggan to take the points in a very competitive ACHL division 2 encounter at Whitehill on Wednesday night.

Little separated the sides over the hour but the home side looked to have sewn things up when they led by six with only minutes remaining.

A  Matthew Rogers point and a goal from Conor McCann, when he drove a 20 meter free through a crowded goalmouth reduced the gap to two and the Whitehill side were forced to endure a few more anxious moments before referee, Barry Winters blew for full-time.

In a game played at real championship intensity it was Colm Duffin who edged Tir na nog into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after being sent through by Emmet Murray.

The referee barely had time to record the score when Matthew Rodgers raced clear at the other end to tie the scoring and then Conor Small got a delicate touch to a Teddy McKeown delivery to redirect the sliotar past Kevin Sheerin and give the visitors the lead.

It was end to end stuff with Sean Duffin hitting a number of fine points for the Randalstown side and when a speculative delivery from Darragh Fagan went all the way to the Creggan net in the 19th minute the sides were level again.

A pointed Ciaran Logan free and 2 more from the excellent Sean Duffin edged the Whitehill men three ahead but Creggan replied through a Morgan Nelson free and a great point from play to leave just one between the sides.

Sean Duffin for Tir na nOg and his namesake, Sean Duffin for the Kickham’s exchanged late points to leave the home side leading by the minimum as Barry Winters sounded his whistle for half time.

Morgan Nelson brought it all square again from a Creggan free in the third minute of the new half but Tir na nOg replied with three on the bounce from Ciaran Logan 0-2 and a superb effort from Colm Duffin to lead by three with 9 minutes gone.

Kickham’s replied through a Morgan Nelson free but the momentum was very much with the home side at this stage and Tairnan Bonnes, Colm Duffin, Emmet Murray and Sean Duffin put them six in front by the 22nd minute and it looked as good as over.

The visitors were still giving it everything however and Matthew Rodgers pointed before Conor McCann drilled a close range free to the Tir na nOg net to put his side right back into contention.

A minute earlier the same player saw his attempt from a free come back of an upright and with the home support baying for full-time the home defence stood firm to withstand a late onslaught and claim the points.

A very entertaining and competitive game of hurling and over the hour Tir na nOg did just enough to deserve the victory but their opponents kept battling to the end and on another day might have had something for their efforts.

Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Dylan McLarnon, 3 Ciaran O’Neill, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Caoimhin Duffin, 6 Sean Duffin, 7 Sean McKinley, 8 Brandon McLarnon, 9 Connor McCamphill, 10 Ciaran Logan, 11 Colm Duffin, 12 Joshua Higgins, 13 Tairnan Bonnes, 14 Emmet Murray, 15 Darragh Fagan.

Subs: Oliver mcAtamney for Bonnes, Declan Mallon forLogan, Neil Shannon for Fagan, Brian Fitzgerald

Kickham’s: 1 Shea Devlin, 2 Dylan Hinfey, 3 Jake McAteer, 4 Peadar McGuckian, 5 Senan O’Boyle, 6 Kealan McCann, 7 Aiden McKeown, 8 Dan Doran, 9 Ruairi McCann, 10 Matthew Rodgers, 11 Morgan Nelson, 22 Sean Duffin, 13 Conor Small, 14 Conor McCann, 15 Sean McAuley.

Subs: Oran McCann, Conor Loughran, Ronan mcGuckian

Referee: Barry Winters

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Happy 8th birthday Saffron Gael

8 years ago today the Saffron Gael did its first match report when Dunloy and Loughgiel played in the Under 21 Hurling Final in Armoy, the Cuchullains coming out on top by 2-21 to 1-10.

By coincidence the two sides meet again in the Antrim Hurling League this evening, this time at Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel. Take a look through the line-ups from that evening in 2017 and you will find a high number of the sides are still hurling, a good number of them at a high level.

Since then the Saffron Gael has been very busy, producing match reports, previews and general GAA stories, 10,909 of them to be precise. We have had 12, 274, 372 hits and thankfull are still going strong.

As well as Loughgiel v Dunloy tonight there are quite a few other derby games down for decision with Ballycastle and Cushendall meeting at Pairc Mac Uílin, Naomh Eanna and Rossa playing at Glengormley and Portaferry and Ballygalget meeting down the Ards

In Division 2 table toppers Oisins have home advantage over Cushendun in what promises to be a real cracker, Shane O’Neill’s take on Carey Faughs in a north Antrim clash at Feystown, Tir na nOg and neighbours Creggan clash at Whitehill in the south west derby, St Gall’s and St Paul’s battle it out in a South Antirm derby while Carryduff and Bredagh meet in the Co Down, Belfast derby.

It’s the same in Division 3 with Davitt’s and Gorts meeting at Davitt Park, Naomh Eanna 2nds and Lamh Dhearg playing at Hightown, Con Magees and Glenrovers meeting in Armoy and Rasharkin taking on Dunloy 2nds at Dreen.

In Division 4 there are also two derby games when Belfast Saints play St Brigid’s and Latharna Og taking on Glenarm 2nds at the Brustin Braes

by thesaffrongael

Great second half effort fails to save the Saffrons

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship – Round 5

Antrim 1-16 Offaly 3-15

Sunday 25 May

Report from Brendan McTaggart

When James McNaughton found the back of the Offaly net in the 65th minute, it looked like the unthinkable was going to become thinkable.  Reduced to 14 men, playing into a gale force wind and trailing by four points at half time, the odds were stacked against the Saffrons but McNaughton’s strike left the minimum between the sides.

As it was, however, it was the last score Antrim would record and Offaly got out of jail.  Five points the difference at the end of a pulsating 70 minutes that saw Antrim play with incredible intensity, tactically astute after the early dismissal of Niall O’Connor and a game plan that made little of the conditions that had a massive impact on the game.

On a day that required heroes, Antrim had plenty in a Saffron shirt.  Conor Boyd and Joe Maskey excellent in the half back line while Stephen Rooney put in his best performance in the county shirt – highlighted by a quite outstanding block to deny Brian Duignan a certain goal late in the game. 

Gerard Walsh excelled in the middle of the park while Scott Walsh and the returning Keelan Molloy was a real thorn in the side of the Faithful County.  James McNaughton top scored with 1-8 and another superb performance in attack but it was the concession of first half goals playing with the wind that hurt the Saffrons cause.

Brian Duignan top scored for Offaly with 1-7, his goal coming in the second minute of the game while Charlie Mitchell was always a serious threat.  Donal Shirley patrolled as the extra man in defence and played the role to perfection while Dan Ravenhill (penalty) and Killian Sampson scored the other majors – Sampson with the score that would effectively seal the win for Offaly.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Antrim got off to the worse possible start when Duignan found the back of the net.  Getting on the end of a cross field ball from Mitchell, Duignan swung his hurl one handed and smashed the sliotar beyond Ryan Elliott.

The Antrim response was swift with Nigel Elliott firing over.  It could have been better with half a goal chance but Elliott elected to take his point.

A McNaughton free in the 6th minute brought Antrim to within one point when they were reduced to 14 men.  Niall O’Connor was penalised for an off the ball infringement with Charlie Mitchell and referee Michael Kennedy flashed the red card. 

Despite the set-back, Antrim responded well.  Points from Keelan Molloy and Gerard Walsh either side of a Duignan free brought them level again before the home side were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute.  Mitchell fouled in a scramble with Dan Ravenhill expertly finding the back of the net.

Antrim continued to make inroads into the Offaly defence and a brace of McNaughton frees was the Saffrons answer to the Offaly goal but when the home side hit three points unanswered from Dan Ravenhill, Duignan (free) and Shirley, it put four between the sides with a little over 12 minutes of the half remaining.

A quick fire brace from Molloy and a gargantuan point from Paddy Burke was followed by McNaughton’s fourth free of the half to bring the sides level but the home side finished the half strongly.

Points from Shirly and Dan Ravenhill were followed by scores from Duignan (free) and a brace from Mitchell with Gerard Walsh the solitary response from Antrim to leave the half time score 2-9 to 0-11.

It was going to take something special for Antrim to save their McCarthy Cup status such was the standing of the game at half time.  McNaughton did manage to score the first point of the second half soon after the restart but a trio of scores from Duignan (two frees) and Dan Bourke put six between the sides.  Indeed, were it not for the brilliance of Elliott between the sticks, it would have been more but he deflected Bourke’s effort over the bar.

Scott Walsh and Duignan swapped scores as Offaly maintained their six point advantage but Duignan’s free would be their last score for 20 minutes as Antrim controlled the contest with their running game.

Playing into the wind, they played with precision, pace and power to run at the Offaly defence and while scoring chances were at a premium, Offaly struggled and with every passing minute the Saffrons grew in confidence.  A trio of frees from McNaughton came in that space of time with Mitchell splitting the uprights with a brilliant score from under the stand and not much angle to work with.

Antrim were throwing everything at Offaly and with the clock ticking into the final five minutes they finally got a break.  McNaughton’s major came after a bit of a scramble but his strike was as sweet as anything seen during the game and gave Mark Troy no chance between the sticks. 

The momentum was with the Saffons and when Rooney produced a miracle block moments later to deny Duignan with the goal at his mercy, it looked like the stars were aligninig.

It wasn’t to be however.  Offaly’s third goal proved to be a hammer blow and while there’s no disputing the finish by Killian Sampson, Antrim could well be aggrieved by the award of a two man ball and not a free in their favour in the build up to the goal.

Duignan took his tally to 1-7 for the match with his seventh free and while Antrim continued to push, they couldn’t breach the Offaly defence one more time.

A disappointing result at the end of a disappointing campaign but this performance was outstanding.  Full of guts, determination and a never-say-die desire that makes this defeat even harder to muster.  Offaly maintain their status in the Liam McCarthy as the Joe McDonagh Cup beckons for the Saffrons.

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, Paddy Burke, Niall O’Connor; Conall Bohill, Joe Maskey, Conor Boyd; Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell; Ryan McCambridge, Nigel Elliott, Scott Walsh; Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill, James McNaughton

Subs: Cormac McKeown for R McCambridge (55)

Scorers: J McNaughton 1-8 (8fs); K Molloy 0-3; G Walsh 0-2; P Burke 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; S Walsh 0-1

Offaly: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Bourke, Sam Bourke; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Cathal King, Colin Spain; Killian Sampson, Dan Bourke, Oisin Kelly; Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan

Subs: Jack Clancy for D Ravenhill (HT); Eoghan Cahill for J Sampson (64)

Scorers: B Duignan 1-7 (7fs); D Ravenhill 1-2 (1-00 pen); C Mitchell 0-3; K Sampson 1-00; D Shirley 0-2; D Bourke 0-1

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON HTE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

When they last met…a look at the last three Antrim v Offaly games

When they last met….

Saffrons Suffer Offaly Defeat

Allianz National Hurling League

Division 1B

Antrim 0-17 Offaly 2-26

Sunday 9 February

Brendan McTaggart reports from Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore

And the mystery of Antrim’s ‘away day’ blues continue.  On an afternoon that promised plenty, it transpired to be a largely forgettable journey to the Faithful County as the Saffrons succumbed to their second defeat of their league campaign.

It was a difficult watch for the vast majority of the 70 plus minutes with Antrim contributing a worrying amount to their own downfall.  I didn’t take note of the number of turnovers either forced or unforced but it can’t have made for pretty reading for the Saffrons as Offaly romped to a comfortable and thoroughly deserving win.

Yet, with seven minutes of the first half remaining, the home side led by just two points.  Offaly did have the lion’s share of possession and did the majority of the hurling in that opening 20 odd minutes but Antrim were plugging away and Ryan Elliott performing his own heroics between the sticks with two brave, brilliant and bewildering saves.  Roy Keane might say that: ‘He’s a keeper, it’s his job’ but Antrim’s netminder produced the unimaginable.

In the seven minutes and a few more of injury time that followed, Offaly hit 1-5 without reply to leave 10 between the sides and another giving Antrim another indication if it were needed, that if you take your eye off the ball at this level, you get punished.

Brian Duignan put in another top performance for Offaly with a near faultless display from frees and open play while Charlie Mitchell was a real handful for the Antrim defence at full forward.  The impish abilities of Daniel Bourke were evident throughout while Killian Sampson and Dan Ravenhill’s goals added gloss to the score board.

Defensively, it was a tough for Antrim.  They were rocked by the absence of Conall Bohill who was replaced by Joe Maskey in the starting 15 while Gerard Walsh’s game lasted 13 minutes.  Offaly’s ability to create space and pull the Antrim defence into places they just didn’t want to go was bewildering.  Speed, agility, movement, they had it in spades.  Antrim on the other hand looked like a team who were drained of confidence and lost among a swathe of a slick Offaly side who were in no mood to let a stuttering Saffron side off the hook.

James McNaughton continued his good form with nine white flags while Keelan Molloy top scored from open play with three points.  Molloy showed glimpses of his mesmeric brilliance but it was all too fleeting as Antrim struggled.  Nigel Elliott worked his socks off again along with Joe Maskey but there were too many in Saffron not leaving Tullamore with plus marks as Offaly cruised….

TEAMS

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

Subs: Eoin McFerran for G Walsh (13); Ryan McCambridge for N McKenna (HT); Conor Boyd for D McCloskey (HT); Eoin O’Neill for P Boyle (47); Cormac McKeown for C Johnston (62)

Scorers: J McNaughton 0-9 (6fs 1’65); K Molloy 0-3; S Elliott 0-2; S Wlash 0-1; N O’Connor 0-1; J Maskey 0-1

Offaly: Mark Troy; Padraig Cantwell, Ciarán Burke, James Mahon; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Colin Spain, Cathal King; Oisín Kelly, Daniel Bourke, Killian Sampson; Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan

Subs: Sam Bourke for P Cantwell (17); David Nally for K Sampson (60); David King for J Sampson (62); Luke Watkins for C Spain (64); DJ McLoughlin for D Shirley (68)

Scorers: B Duignan 0-12 (9fs 1’65); K Sampson 1-4; D Ravenhill 1-2 (1f); C Mitchell 0-4; D Bourke 0-1; O Kelly 0-1; R Ravenhill 0-1; S Bourke 0-1

Referee: Seamus Hynes

Johnston major seals Faithful victory for Saffrons

Antrim 3-22 Offaly 2-24

McDonagh Cup

16th April 2022

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast

Antrim left it late in the day on Saturday afternoon to seal an opening day win in the McDonagh Cup.  Conor Johnston’s second goal coming in the fifth minute of injury time proving to be the decisive score as the Saffrons edged past the challenge of Offaly.

To say this was a rollercoaster for 70 minutes would be an understatement.  You would think as an Antrim supporter we would get used to this by now but Corrigan Park hosted another intense battle with two sides giving everything they had.

Offaly came with a point to prove and were certainly a different animal from two weeks ago.  Antrim exploited gaping holes in their defence in Navan and looked like scoring a goal at every opportunity but Michael Fennelly and his team learned from that 70 minutes.  Any sights of Stephen Corcoran’s goals were hard earned or coming through pieces of quality play. 

In a bruising encounter, Domhnall Nugent gave everything he had for the Saffrons with he and Joe Maskey shouldering a lot of the heavy hits Offaly could give.  Some curious refereeing decisions going against both men or no calls at all being given that left plenty in attendance scratching their head.  Conal Cunning was once again mesmeric from frees with eight of his 10 points coming from placed ball while the goals came from the two Conor’s – Johnston and McCann.

Defensively Antrim will be disappointed with the two goals conceded but Paddy Burke shone at half back with Ryan McGarry also having a good game.

Antrim started superbly and scored the opening three points of the game inside the opening four minutes but Offaly were getting joy from utilising short poc-outs and developing chances through the lines.  The Saffron’s were slow in responding to Offaly’s game plan in a half that was played largely on the visitors terms.  Eoghan Cahill their main scoring threat with the Birr star capable of scoring from anywhere inside 70 yards as his overall performance showed……

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Ryan McGarry, Gerard Walsh, Stephen Rooney; Paddy Burke, Eoghan Campbell, Scott Walsh; Joe Maskey, Keelan Molloy; Seaan Elliott, Domhnall Nugent, Conor McCann; Conal Cunning, Ciaran Clarke, Conor Johnston

Subs: James McNaughton for K Molloy (HT); Phelim Duffin for S Rooney (56); Matthew Donnelly for S Walsh (61); Daniel McKernan for S Elliott (64); Conal Bohill for D Nugent (68)

Scorers: C Cunning 0-10 (7f’s 1 ’65); C Johnston 2-2; C McCann 1-1; C Clarke 0-3; P Burke 0-2; R McGarry 0-1; K Molloy 0-1; S Elliott 0-1; J McNaughton 0-1

Offaly: Stephen Corcoran; Joey Keenaghan, David King, Padraig Cantwell; Eoghan Parlon, Ben Coneely, Eimhin Kelly; Jack Screeney, Leon Fox; Adrian Cleary, Eoghan Cahill, Brian Duignan; Sean Cleary, Jason Sampson, David Nally

Subs: Luke O’Connor for S Cleary (48); John Murphy for L Fox (52); Killian Sampson for B Duignan (54); Ciaran Burke for E Parlon (63); Paddy Clancy for A Cleary (67)

Scorers: E Cahill 0-15 (11f’s, 1 ’65); D Nally 1-3; J Murphy 1-00; E Kelly 0-1; J Screeney 0-1; A Cleary 0-1; B Duignan 0-1; J Sampson 0-1; L O’Connor 0-1

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)

Job Done.  Saffrons Remain in Division One

Allianz Hurling League Division One

Relegation Play Off

Antrim 2-24 Offaly 2-17

Saturday March 26, 2022

Report by Brendan McTaggart

26 March 2022; Keelan Molloy of Antrim celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Relegation Play-off match between Antrim and Offaly at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath.

Relief, elation, euphoria, job done.  A mix of emotions at the full time whistle in Pairc Tailteann as Antrim secured their Division One status for 2023.  It was the performance Darren Gleeson and his backroom needed to get the result the county yearned and the Saffrons delivered in spades.  10 points the difference and a score line that maybe flattered the Faithful County by the end of the 70 minutes.  Conal Cunning top scoring with nine of his 10 points coming from frees as he took over that responsibility from the injured Neil McManus while Ciaran Clarke looked back to his best with 0-4 to his name.  James McNaughton and Keelan Molloy with the other majors for the Saffrons as they reaped from their attacking play under the sun in Navan.

Antrim looked like they could score goals at will in the opening half with McNaughton’s 4th minute major settling any nerves in the Saffron camp.  Offaly relied on scores from distance with Eoghan Cahill and Jason Sampson the main protagonists and going into the final couple of minutes of the first half, the sides were tied on 1-9 to 0-12.

Antrim finished the half with a saffron coloured flourish however with Clarke and Molloy raising the white flag before Domhnall Nugent and Conal Cunning combined to release Molloy for the Saffrons second major of the game with what was the last action of the opening half.

Offaly rallied at the start of the second half with 1-2 in the opening seven minutes.  The Saffrons were reduced to 14 men with Niall O’Connor black carded in an incident that saw Cahill score form a penalty but Antrim regrouped to control the second half.

Defensively they had Offaly’s number with the half back line resolute and helping to create pressure up front by forcing turn overs. 

Antrim outscored Offaly five points to one in a 10 minute period that effectively saw them build an unassailable lead.  Huge frees from McNaughton and Cunning while Joe Maskey could have easily found the back of the net with his drive in that same period of time while Conor McCann’s 53rd minute point under the old stand at Pairc Tailteann was worthy to grace any pitch in the country.

Cahill’s accuracy from placed ball kept the Faithful County’s hopes alive but another four unanswered points and a brilliant save from Corcoran to deny Cunning a major put Antrim eight ahead with as many minutes remaining on the clock.

Offaly were reduced to 14 men for the last five minutes with Joey Keenaghan receiving a second yellow card and the Saffrons extended their lead to 11 points with Eoin O’Neill and Cunning (two).  Antrim’s numerical advantage was gone when O’Connor was sent off in injury time and while Antrim looked home and dry, Offaly and Cahill kept them on edge in injury time.  The Offaly talisman firing to the back of the net from a 21 yard free with a vicious drive to beat Ryan Elliott in the Antrim goals.

Antrim responded with Seaan Elliott winning a penalty, Eimhin Kelly black carded for his challenge and while Clarke found the back of the net, he was adjudged to have crossed the 21 before striking and his major was disallowed.

It mattered little however in what was the last action of the game.  A third year at the top table of hurling beckons for the Saffrons while Darren Gleeson and his backroom team will turn their attention to another assault on the Joe McDonagh Cup.

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; David Kearney, Gerard Walsh, Stephen Rooney; Paddy Burke, Eoghan Campbell, Joe Maskey; Keelan Molloy, Ryan McGarry; James McNaughton, Domhnall Nugent, Conal Cunning; Conor Johnston, Conor McCann, Ciaran Clarke

Scorers: C Cunning 0-10 (9f); C Clarke 1-4 (1-00 pen); J McNaughton 1-2 (1f 1’65); K Molloy 1-2; E Campbell 0-2; G Walsh 0-1; J Maskey 0-1; C McCann 0-1; E O’Neill 0-1

Offaly: Stephen Corcoran; Jack Screeney, Ben Conneely, Joey Keenaghan; Leon Fox, David King, Killian Sampson; Adrian Cleary, David Nally; Brian Duignan, Jason Sampson, John Murphy; Liam Langton, Eoghan Cahill, Luke O’Connor

Scorers: E Cahill 2-7 (1-4f; 1 ’65); J Sampson 0-3; L O’Connor 0-2; S Corcoran 0-1 (1f); D King 0-1; D Nally 0-1; J Murphy 0-1; P Clancy 0-1