Allianz Hurling League – Division 2A

Antrim vs Kerry at Austin Stack Park, Tralee

Thrown In: 12:30pm

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)

By Brendan McTaggart

Three from three, the best performance of their league campaign last day out and Antrim are in a good place.  Their fourth match of the league will be an entirely different prospect however.  Wicklow and Mayo were tests the Saffrons were expected to overcome while Meath are the team that have caused Antrim considerable problems in recent times.  Not last weekend.  Antrim took them apart with a slick display in the first half that had the game won by half time and controlled the contest after the restart.  The Royal’s imploded with two red cards at the end of the half but Antrim were already in control. 

It was a confidence boosting, morale raising performance for Darren Gleeson’s men built upon a strong defence that allowed the forward line to flourish.  Matthew Donnelly in full back rarely put a foot wrong before coming off early in the second half.  The McQuillan’s man read the game perfectly while being immensely strong committing for the challenge.  When he had a decision to make, whether to stick or twist, Donnelly consistently made the right decision and made sure he stopped any danger.  For me, he’s the most natural full back we have in the squad and his presence on the edge of our own square is a massive reassurance.  Mr Dependable.  A shoe-in for man of the match in a 50 minute display if it weren’t for Neil McManus scoring 2-5 from play out of his tally of 2-9.  Like a fine wine, he’s getting better with age.

The only negative from the performance against Meath was the number of wides.  A resounding victory could have been even more convincing but it was the win Antrim were after, nevertheless and with the league entering the business end of the campaign, it increased their points difference which could be pivotal.  The permutations in the race for promotion would send you into a tailspin although plain and simple, wins against Kerry and Offaly next week will leave Antrim in the Final.  One win between the two matches could also be enough but would leave us reaching for calculators with the prospect of three teams finishing with the same number of points a real possibility.

Sunday see’s Antrim’s biggest test to date.  As fate would have it and with the odd game of hurling being played between storms, Antrim have their two toughest matches at the end of the league.  For themselves, Kerry have know that a win against the Saffrons will seal their fate and book a place in the league final.  The Kingdom have a perfect record so far this season with four wins from four, including a two point win over Offaly. 

Kerry and Antrim played twice last season with wins apiece.  They travelled to Corrigan Park for the opening round of the league and despite going 10 points down and seeing a man sent off inside the opening 15 minutes, Antrim clawed their way back into the game, Eoin O’Neill with a goal of the season contender in the first league match of the year in the second half.  But it was a case of ‘what might have been’ at the end of 70 minutes where they came close to pulling off what was an unlikely victory after the opening quarter.

The McDonagh Cup encounter in Dunloy was as comfortable a win the Saffrons have ever had against the Kingdom in recent times.  A 14 point victory, massive performance and something similar would go down a treat on Sunday.

Antrim haven’t wavered too much from the tried and trusted starting 15 in the league and while the team sheet hasn’t been released as yet, I can’t see any changes from the team that started against Meath.  Conor McCann is available for selection after missing the Meath match while Conor Johnston remains injured.  Conal Cunning is coming close to full fitness once again and would be another option for Gleeson and his backroom team but Sunday may come too soon.  The half back line and midfield have gelled well so far this season and barring injury, I can’t imagine there being any changes in personnel. 

Kerry were poor when the sides met in Dunloy in May but in Shane Conway they have one of the best hurlers in Ireland and an expert free taker.  He will punish any indiscretion while Jordan Conway and Jack Goulding will cause the Antrim defence plenty of problems.

With reports of mumps hitting the Kerry camp during the week, their team sheet could make for interesting reading but to use a boxing analogy, we’re into the championship rounds as far as the race for promotion is concerned.  It isn’t a match that’s win or bust for either side but a win would keep momentum going in the right direction.  A win against a promotion rival would set Antrim up nicely for a pivotal game in Tullamore next weekend.  Onwards to Tralee.

Recent Meetings…

Division 2a – Saturday January 26

Antrim 2-16 Kerry 1-21

Corrigan Park, Belfast

TEAMS

Antrim:  Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, John Dillon, Stephen Rooney; Ronan Molloy, Sean Duffin, Matthew Donnelly; Conor McCann, Conor McHugh; Nigel Elliott, James McNaughton, Nicky McKeague; Eoin O’Neill, Keelan Molloy, Ciaran Clarke.

Subs: James O’Connell for R Molloy (HT); Conor Boyd for E O’Neill (54); Connor Laverty for N Elliott (69); Connor Patterson for P Duffin (69).

Scorers for Antrim: James McNaughton 0-12 (8 f’s, 1 ’65); Eoin O’Neill 2-00; James O’Connell 0-2; Conor McHugh 0-1; Keelan Molloy 0-1;

Kerry:  Martin Stackpoole; Sean Weir, Bryan Murphy, Eric Leen; Jason Diggins, Michael Boyle, Fionan Mackessy; Brandon Barrett, Daithi Griffin; Michael O’Leary, Shane Conway, Michael Leane; Jordan Conway, Padraig Boyle, Jack Goulding.

Subs:  Dan Doggin for J Goulding (50); Michael Slattery for M Leane (58); James O’Connor for D Griffin (67).

Scorers for Kerry:  Shane Conway 0-13 (10 f’s); Jordan Conway 0-5; Jack Goulding 1-1; Padraig Boyle 0-3.

Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)

Joe McDonagh Cup – Saturday May 11

Antrim 3-19 Kerry 0-14

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, John Dillon, Phelim Duffin; Paddy Burke, Conor Boyd, Matthew Dillon; Neil McManus, Nicky McKeague; James McNaughton, Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy; Ciaran Clarke, Conor McCann, Eoin O’Neill.

Subs: Nigel Elliott for J McNaughton (48); David Kearney for N McKeague (61); Joe Maskey for E O’Neill (61); Dan McCloskey for C Clarke (67); Kevin Rice for C McCann (68)

Scorers: Neil McManus 0-4 (4 f’s); Ciaran Clarke 1-1; Nicky McKeague 1-00; Nigel Elliott 1-00; Keelan Molloy 0-3; James McNaughton 0-2 (2 f’s); Conor McCann 0-2; Eoin O’Neill 0-2; Ryan McCambridge 0-1; Paddy Burke 0-1; David Kearney 0-1; Joe Maskey 0-1; Kevin Rice 0-1.

Kerry: Martin Stackpoole; John Buckley, James O’Connor, Evan Murphy; Sean Weir, Bryan Murphy, Tomas O’Connor; Colum Harty, Jack Goulding; Shane Conway, Michael O’Leary, Jordan Conway; Dan Goggin, Michael Boyle, Padraig Boyle.

Subs: Michael Slattery for O Boyle (50); Patrick Kelly for C Harty (59); Daniel Carroll for J Conway (63); Gavin Dooley for J Goulding (65)

Scorers: Shane Conway 0-10 (10 f’s); Michael O’Leary 0-2; Colum Harty 0-1; Tomas O’Connor 0-1.

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)

League Table

Allianz Hurling League Roinn 2A

Pos	Team	P	W	L	D	F	A	Diff	PT
1	Kerry	4	4	0	0	83	50	33	8
2	Antrim	3	3	0	0	93	36	57	6
3	Offaly	3	2	1	0	84	57	27	4
4	Meath	4	1	3	0	80	108	-28	2
5	Wicklow	4	1	3	0	72	89	-17	2
6	Mayo	4	0	4	0	52	124	-72	0

Story So Far…

Antrim 0-20 Wicklow 0-11

Antrim 4-19 Mayo 0-7

Antrim 5-27 Meath 1-15

Kerry 2-24 Mayo 0-13 (MacHale Park, Castlebar)

Kerry 2-11 Offaly 0-14 (Austin Stack Park, Tralee)

Kerry 0-13 Meath 0-8 (St Loman’s Park, Trim)

Kerry 1-20 Wicklow 1-12 (Pearse Park, Arklow)

Antrim Scorers so Far….

Neil McManus 2-26 (17 f’s, 2 ‘65’s); Niall McKenna 1-6; Eoghan Campbell 1-6; Dan McCloskey 1-4; James McNaughton 1-4; Alex Delargy 2-00; Keelan Molloy 1-2; Gerard Walsh 0-4; Domhnall Nugent 0-2; Aodhan O’Brien 0-2; Ronan Molloy 0-2; Conor Johnston 0-1; Eoin O’Neill 0-1; Conor Boyd 0-1; Conor McCann 0-1; Nicky McKeague 0-1; Joe Maskey 0-1

Ulster Colleges Hurling – Foresters Cup

Downpatrick High School 3-18 Cross & Passion College 4-10

Two goals in the 58^th minute by gamekeeper turned poacher James Bakewell brought CPC back to within a goal of Downpatrick High School in Thursday’s final round-robin game in the Foresters Cup at Allen Park Antrim. The big full-back had been brought up to the edge of the square in an attempt to salvage the game and when he hit the net twice in quick succession, in a style which his famous grandfather Eddie Donnelly would have been proud of, there was suddenly a glimmer of hope for the Ballycastle school. However Red High were not to be outdone and keeping their cool they closed out the game through two of their star men, Oisin Coulter and Fearghal McManus to seal the win they richly deserved.

The Down boys had dominated the opening half and boosted by a goal from the excellent Coulter, they led by 1-8 to 0-6 at half time. When CPC started the second half with a goal and three points from centre forward ‘Bicky’ McGarry the game was suddenly in the melting pot again. A Jack Colgan point in the 37^th minute brought the north Antrim side level but Red High responded in style and with Coulter, McManus, Dorrian and McGratten calling the shots they hit 2-3 without reply Coulter and McGratten finding the net with clinical strikes.

McGarry pulled a goal back for CPC on 50 minutes to cut the gap back to five but four unanswered points, three from McGrattan and one from Dorian, stretched the Red High lead to nine with just two minutes of normal time left to play. Bakewell’s double raised CPC hopes of salvaging something out of the game as he closed the gap to just three, but Coulter and the excellent Fearghal McManus closed the door on their opponents and sealed the victory by five.

DOWNPATRICK HIGH

1 – Rossa McGrath

2 – Oisin McGrattan

3- Adam Rogan

4 – Sean Mageean

5 – Conor Lenaghan

6 – Ryan O’Neill

7 – Jude Ruddy

8 – Finn Turpin

9 – Michal Dorrian

10 – Tiernan Connolly

11- Tom McGrattan  

12 – Luke McCabe

13 – Ferghal Casey

14 – Oisin Coulter

15– Fearghal McManus

CROSS & PASSION

1 – Jimmy Joe Burns

2 – Cahir Donnelly

3 – James Bakewell

4 – Paddy McAlister

5 – Conan Sheridan

6 – Oisin Elliott

7 – Eoin Boylan

8 – Ruairi McCormick

9 – Jaack Colgan

10 – Darragh Watterson

11 – Bicky McGarry

12 – Odhran Donnelly

13 – Darragh Kelly

14 – Tiernan Heggarty

15 – Ben O’Kane

Referee – Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

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The young hurlers of Oisins Glenariffe and Kickhams Creggan provided the entertainment during half time at last Sunday’s Antrim v Meath National Hurling League game at Kelly Park, Portglenone. Refereed by you Naomh Eoin whistle Lorcan McCallin the girls and boys on both sides gave their all in a hard fought game and afterward received medals to mark the occasion from county chairman Ciaran McCavana.

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