A look back at Antrim’s last meeting with the Deise in 2023
Pic by Brendan McTaggart
Allianz Hurling League, Division One Group B
Waterford 1-22
Antrim 0-17
Sunday 26 February 2023
Brendan McTaggart reports from Fraher Field, Dungarvan.
Antrim put in a much improved performance on Sunday on the south coast against Waterford but the home side finished strong to see off Darren Gleeson’s men. It took the introduction of Deise star Austin Gleeson to ignite Davy Fitgerald’s men with the Mount Sion man landing five points in a 25 minute cameo where he showed his class.
Antrim’s challenge took a massive dent when captain Eoghan Campbell saw red in the 23rd minute for an off the ball incident with Reuben Halloran. The Saffrons were ahead by three at the time and posing plenty of questions of the Waterford defence but the numerical advantage and playing into the wind in the second half took its toll in the end.
Two ahead at half time, Antrim played with more precision and poise in the second half that may have been lacking in previous matches. They managed to stay ahead of the home side for long periods of the second half with Conal Cunning’s frees prevalent but with 10 minutes of the 70 remaining, the home side and Aussie Gleeson found another gear.
The Waterford goal came from the penalty spot early in the second half, ‘keeper Tiarnan Smyth going close to Patrick Curran’s drive while Antrim didnt have the same luck from their penalty awarded late in the game. Gerard Walsh’s effort spectacularly saved by Shaun O’Brien with the sliotar destined for the top corner.
It felt like a turning point at the time. A major then and Antrim could have kicked on, as it was the home side saw off the Antrim challenge….
WATERFORD: Shaun O’Brien; Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty (0-02), Conor Ryan (0-01); Shane McNulty, Calum Lyons (0-03), Jack Fagan (0-01); Gavin Fives, Paddy Leavey (0-01); Jamie Barron (0-01), Patrick Curran (1-04, 1-00 pen, 0-02 frees), Neil Montgomery (0-01); Jack Prendergast (0-01), DJ Foran (0-01), Reuben Halloran
Pic by Brendan McTaggart
Subs: Carthach Daly for S McNulty (HT), Austin Gleeson (0-05, 4 frees) for R Halleron (45), Padraig Fitzgerald (0-01) for P Curran (54), Patrick Fitzgerald for N Montgomery (61), Colin Dunford for P Leavey (66)
ANTRIM: Tiernan Smyth; Paddy Burke, Ryan McGarry, Stephen Rooney; Gerard Walsh (0-01 free), Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; Michael Bradley (0-01), Paul Boyle (0-01); Keelan Molloy (0-02), Niall McKenna, Neil McManus; Conal Cunning (0-11, 10 frees), James McNaughton, Seaan Elliott.
Subs: Niall O’Connor (0-01) for C Bohill (33), Eoin O’Neill for S Elliott (HT), Nigel Elliott for N McManus (46), Joe Maskey for P Boyle (57), Rian McMullan for N McKenna (70+3)
ANTRIM moved clear of Leitrim at the foot of the Division Three standings with a comfortable 4-16-1-11 win at Corrigan Park on Saturday,
The Saffrons were ruthless in the opening half and had four-goals before the midway point. Marc Jordan and Niall Burns netted within the opening quarter of an hour and Dominic McEnhill followed up after his penalty was saved by Daire O’Shea.
On the stroke of half time Fionn Nagle poked home a fourth from close range and despite Donal Casey pulling a goal back for the visitors in the closing stages, the second half was a more than professional performance from Andy McEntee’s charges- who move onto four-points from their opening four encounters.
Without the suspended duo of Conor Stewart and Conor Hand, McEntee reshuffled his pack with Niall Burns and Ryan Murray coming into the starting 15, in what was Murray’s 100th appearance in the Saffron jersey.
Antrim were off the mark early when Ruairi McCann popped over from a Mick Byrne pass but Paul Honeyman converted a close range free less than a minute later.
The visitors twice led through Darren Cox and Keith Keegan points and in between times Dominic McEnhill steered a high free over.
Ruairi McCann thought he had netted his sides opening goal when he got a fist to Fionn Nagles high ball, but after consultation with his officials, referee Conor Dourneen disallowed it for a square ball.
They wouldn’t have long to wait as it arrived on the 11th minute. Marc Jordan slipped a pass to Niall Burns and he returned to Jordan who found the top corner with an angled shot to make it 1-2-0-3.
McEnhill doubled his account after cutting in on the left and bending a shot over before a second goal arrived with little over a quarter of an hour gone.
Ryan Murray picked out club-mate Jordan who played a one-two with Ruairi McCann before delivering a low ball across the face of goal that Niall Burns charged in to meet and bundle to the net.
Burns pointed within 60-seconds and the Saffrons had the opportunity to extend their lead when Marc Jordan was caught by Kieran Glancy as he was about to pull the trigger and Dourneen signalled for a penalty.
Antrim’s Finn Nagle goes highest to break down one of Mick Byrne’s kick-outs
Responsibility fell to Domonic McEnhill whose shot was kept out initially by Daire O’Shea in the Leitrim goal, but McEnhill got to the loose ball ahead of O’Shea and scrambled in to make it 3-4-0-5.
Without a score in 18 minutes a Tom Prior point lifted the visitors and subsequent scores from Jack Foley and Daire O’Shea followed before the interval.
Antrim remained in the ascendancy and added a further 1-2 before the half concluded. Niall Burns and Ruairi McCann hit back-to-back scores in response to Prior’s and on the 34th minute Fionn Nagle netted from close range after Mick Byrne and Dermot McAleese combined in the build-up and an injury time Jack Lenehan point had his side 4-7-0-6 ahead at the midway point.
Jack Lenehan doubled his tally within three-minutes of the restart, but Leitrim started the second period brightly as Tom Prior and Darren Cox both doubled his personal tallies.
Back-to-back scores followed from Ruairi McCann and half time substitute Ryan McQuillan but Paul Honeyman doubled his tally for the afternoon as the sides had cancelled each other out in the half by the 50th minute.
A converted Dominic McEnhill free was followed by a fisted Niall Burns point as Antrim attempted to move through the gears, though Leitrim were much improved and replied through substitute Donal Casey.
Half time substitute McQuillan doubled his account and a further goal chance somehow went a begging as Conhuir Johnston gathered a high flighted ball into him on the edge of the small square and his low goal-bound shot was turned behind by Daire O’Shea.
Instead, Leitrim found a consolation strike through a bullet of a shot from Donal Casey that flew across the face of goal and in to make it 4-13-1-10.
The hosts lifted things in the aftermath with Niall Burns helping a Eunan Walsh shot over the bar and Conhuir Johnston swinging a shot over.
The final two points were exchanged with Paul Honeyman sending a high shot over and Ryan McQuillan adding a point at the other end after Paddy McBride had a shot cleared off the line in the build-up.
In the end, Antrim ran out comfortable winners to move clear of Leitrim at the foot of the table with three-games remaining.
Ryan Murray who played his 100th game in the Saffron jersey in Saturday’s win over Leitrim’s at Corrigan Park
ANTRIM: M Byrne, E McCabe, E Walsh, J Morgan, J McAuley, J Lenehan (0-2), D McAleese, M Jordan (1-0), E Quinn, N Burns (1-4), P McBride, F Nagle (1-0), R Murray, R McCann (0-3), D McEnhill (1-3, 0-1f). Subs: R McQuillan (0-3) for R Murray (HT), C Johnston (0-1) for R McCann (59), J McDonnell for J McAuley (65), P King for E McCabe (70+1), S O’Callaghan for N Burns (70+1).
LEITRIM: D O’Shea (0-1), C McHugh, S Harkin, E McLoughlin, J Rooney, M Diffley, E McNamara, C Quinn, K Keegan (0-1), J Flynn, P Honeyman (0-3), J Foley (0-1), B Guckian, D Cox (0-2), T Prior (0-2). Subs: K Glancey for C McHugh (13), C McHugh for S Harkin (HT), K Beirne for J Rooney (HT), D Casey (1-1) for B Guckian (46), K McHugh for E McLoughlin (59)
REFEREE: Conor Dourneen (Donegal)
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Seaan Elliott move out to join his brother Nigel at midfield
Allianz Hurling League
Roinn 1b – Round 4
Antrim v Waterford
Sunday 23 February
Venue: Corrigan Park
Throw in: 1:30pm
Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to tomorrow’s visit of Waterford
Davy Fitzgerald has made six changes to the Antrim starting 15 for Sunday’s visit of Waterford – three of them notably in the full back line. Eoin McFerran, Rory McCloskey and Stephen Rooney coming in for Declan McCloskey, Gerard Walsh and Paddy Burke. Conall Bohill comes back into the starting 15 at the expense of Scott Walsh while Ryan McCambridge and Joseph McLaughlin have been named at 11 and 13 – Conor Johnston and Niall McKenna missing out.
The loss of Burke in the starting line up is a huge blow given his performances over a sustained period of time. He has been Antrim’s most consistent and top performer and his 2024 season was rightfully acknowledged with an All-Star nominee. It’s not ideal to be without the Cushendall star but rumour has it he has been playing through an injury and perhaps the trip and subsequent match in Tullamore was a step too far.
James McNaughton is once again on the edge of the square
McCambridge starting on the ’45 is as close to a like for like replacement for McKenna – both men will win more than their share of ball both in the air and in rucks if needed while have a keen eye for a score.
McFerran was Dunloy’s ‘go-to’ man when it came to man marking during their run to the All Ireland club final a couple of years ago. His performance against Conor Cooney of St Thomas and TJ Reid in the final itself belittled his age and given the system Antrim are looking to deploy, he would be tailor made for the role in the full back line.
Joseph McLaughlin has looked sharp for the U20s in their two matches in the Ulster Cup. He along with Cormac McKeown have excelled and with another couple of weeks before the U20s play in that decider, giving him a starting berth against Waterford is a good call. He’s got speed and agility, will go around his marker in a phone box and a keen eye for goal. When you’re looking to create space in attack, there isn’t many better than McLaughlin to make the most of that opportunity.
Keelan Molloy lines out at right half forward
The Offaly game was a largely forgettable 70 minutes of hurling for Antrim. A decent opening 20 or so minutes was followed by some 40 minutes of errors that were punished by an Offaly side who visibly grew in confidence as the game progressed.
If there are any positives to take from that outing in Tullamore and there aren’t many, Ryan Elliott showed once again he’s one of the best in the business between the sticks. A series of top saves kept the scoreboard from looking even worse and while he might be kicking himself over the Biffo’s second goal, that would be harsh. A bouncing sliotar at speed, a ‘keepers nightmare.
Too often Antrim were second best in almost every facet of the game. Tackling, rucks, delivery, decision making, it fell well below the standards this group have produced in recent times. On the face of it, a match against a Waterford side who have a point to prove is far from the ideal scenario. The Deise were defeated by Carlow three weeks ago, leaving Dr Cullen Park empty handed with a score line of 2-21 to 1-19 in what was their first outing of the year. They recovered from that upset to see off the challenge of Laois 1-27 to 0-20 but given their favourites tag to be promoted to 1A (along with Dublin), they will have hoped for better in the opening two games and know that any further slip ups will leave them with an uphill task of achieving their promotion goals.
After Sunday, Antrim have a trip to Carlow and a home match against Laois. If they are to maintain their status in Division 1b, you would imagine that they will be looking for two wins. As it stands, their fate is still in their hands and as we have seen in the not-too-distant past, this group of players are capable of producing the goods when it matters and showing tremendous powers of recovery. A win would set Antrim up perfectly for what promises to be a difficult trip to Carlow in seven day’s time.
STARTING TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Eoin McFerran, Rory McCloskey, Stephen Rooney; Joe Maskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Seaan Elliott, Nigel Elliott; Paul Boyle, Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy; Joseph McLaughlin, James McNaughton, Niall O’Connor
Waterford: Billy Nolan; Conor Ryan, Conor Prunty, Seamus Fitzgerald; Michael Kiely, Mark Fitzgerald, Paddy Leavey; Jack Prendergast, Conor Sheahan; Padraig Fitzgerald, Jamie Barron, Sean Walsh; Kevin Mahony, Patrick Fitzgerald, Dessie Hutchinson
Goals win games would suggest as Blessed Trinity qualified for Antrim Year 8 Shield final by surpassing the challenges of Edmund Rice in the Quarter final and De La Salle in the Semi-final.
Quarter Final 1: Blessed Trinity 4-1 vs 2-1 Edmund Rice Edmund Rice came out of the traps quick by scoring 1-1 in the first minute. Mason McAlea showcased great skill throughout the game for Edmund Rice. Blessed Trinity defence held out Edmund Rice for the rest of the half. Momentum would swing in the second half for Blessed Trinity as midfielders Archie Matthews and Ruairi Hennesy set up attacks which cut through the Edmund Rice defence which resulted in Blessed Trinity scoring 4-1 without reply. Edmund Rice would get a consolation goal late in the game but damage was already done.
Quarter Final 2: De La Salle 4-5 vs 3-4 All Saints This was an end-to-end game but De La Salle showed a little more class to win the quarter final. All Saints centre half forward James Nolan starred throughout the game with his great running and score taking display. Leo Winchester played a key role for De La Salle as he turned over and intercepted key passes to build a platform for La Salle attacks. All Saint’s midfielder Leon Syla showcased excellent work rate where he stopped many La Salle attacks allowing for All Saints to stay withing touching distance. Luke and Declan Tumelty worked a smart free kick on the 20th minute mark for De La Salle which resulted in a goal. This changed momentum of the game resulting in De La Salle to hold onto a hard-fought victory.
Semi Final: Blessed Trinity 5-0 vs 3-2 De La Salle Blessed Trinity held onto a 4-point win as they beat De La Salle in the semi-final. Blessed Trinity used the wind in the first half quite well were they played fast counter-attacking football to score 4 early goals with Se O’Hara playing a pivotal role in full forward. Luke and Declan Tumelty led De La Salle second half fight back, bringing them to touching distance. Time would run out for La Salle as great defending from Blessed Trinity would see out the game. Blessed Trinity will have to wait a few weeks to find out who will face them in the shield final.
Meanwhile St Louis Ballymena and St Mary’s qualified for the Antrim Cup Year 8 final by beating the challenges of St Louises, Coláiste Feirste, Rathmore, St Malachy’s and Our Lady of St Pats Knock
