Allianz Hurling League – Division 1B
Antrim 2-18 Carlow 1-21
Sunday 2 March
Brendan McTaggart reports from Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow
It was the late, late show for Antrim on Sunday afternoon but Gerard Walsh’s 75th minute wonder strike ensured the Saffrons fate in Division 1B remains in their own hands.
Standing over the sliotar and a wall of colour in front of him, 35 yards from goal, it was all or nothing for Antrim and Walsh, somehow, managed to find the back of the Carlow net.
Was it a deserved ending? Absolutely. Antrim showed the fight and desire Davy Fitzgerald had called for after recent defeats and but for seven or eight minutes at the end of the first half, they performed more like the Antrim team we have come accustomed to in recent times.
Goal chances came and left before finally finding a way through. On another day, Conor Johnston would be walking off with three goals beside his name. As it was, he hit the bottom of the upright, was felled in the build up to Keelan Molloy’s goal and had a fresh air strike with the goal at his mercy. James McNaughton finished with eight points, six from placed ball and uncharacteristically missed a couple of frees along with a penalty. That being said, McNaughton’s overall contribution was outstanding. His ability to evade challenges and create chances was second to none in an Antrim shirt.
When Fitzgerald and his team analyse this one, they’ll realise that it’s a chance missed. But looking at the positives, and there are plenty to come from this 70 plus minutes, have they come across a winning formula? Plenty has been said in relation to systems and styles being implanted so far. I’ve been one of those who have questioned it. In that second 35 minutes on Sunday afternoon, Antrim really turned the screw. Trailing by seven points six minutes into the second half, they reduced the home side to four points from play and seven overall while hitting 2-8 themselves despite missing a plethora of further chances.
What was the difference? There were different personnel but positionally, Antrim were much more tuned in to what was being asked of them. They put pressure on the Carlow puck outs and upped the intensity in the middle third. Winning clean ball with Conall Bohill excelling, Ryan McCambridge superb in second phase ball while Gerard Walsh was in his element in the advanced position.
From our own restarts, there was an initial reluctance to go long. Short puck outs were then being driven from the full back and latterly the half back lines in an attempt to bypass the middle third but the variation kept Carlow from getting to grips with Ryan Elliott’s puck outs.
The only really worrying aspect of this game was the closing period of the first half. The sides were tied on seven points each in the 27th minute when Carlow got the opening goal of the game. It was Chris Nolan who was on the end of the move that involved Marty Kavanagh in the buildup and despite a less than favourable angle, he managed to beat Elliott with a drilled effort.
A further four points followed with James Doyle at his brilliant best with Antrim’s solitary response coming from a Keelan Molloy point with the last action of the half.
It was a harsh ending to the half for Antrim and a further reminder that if you take your eye off the ball at this level, you’ll get punished. In a first half where they showed plenty of determination and defensively for long periods, had the match of a talented Carlow attack but they were struggling for any kind of momentum in attack. Whether that be the delivery of ball or touches being missed, it just wasn’t clicking in that first half for the Saffrons. Four points in the opening eight minutes was followed by the same tally in the time that remained in the first half. That being said, the work rate and determination was there. They needed to convert the chances they were creating to start making the home side think differently.
A quick fire brace from Conor Johnston soon after the restart got Antrim off to a bright start and while Carlow were taking scores and keeping the score board ticking, the Saffrons were looking much more threatening in attack. The introduction of Cormac McKeown certainly having an impact.
A run of five points in seven minutes with just one white flag coming the way of Carlow helped to reduce the deficit to three points and 25 minutes of the match remaining. It could have been better for the Saffrons but Conor Johnston’s brilliant effort somehow found the bottom of the right hand upright with Brian Tracey beaten between the sticks.
McKeown reduced that deficit to two shortly after before Kavanagh converted his second free of the half in the 59th minute.
With all the momentum, Antrim’s slick passing created a massive goal scoring opportunity for McNaughton. He was felled by Paul Doyle who was black carded for his troubles and McNaughton stood 20 yards from goal to take the penalty. He struck the sliotar well but Brian Tracey was equal to his strike and his rebounded effort went to the wrong side of the post.
With six minutes remaining, midfielder Ciaran Whelan put four between the sides and it felt like it was an insurance point for the home side. Antrim came once again and another slick move, they carved open the Carlow defence and Johnston was on the end of a half chance. He went to strike unorthodoxly but was swarmed out by a retreating Carlow defence only for Molloy to fire the rebound to the back of the net.
Antrim were well on top with any Carlow attacks fleeting in the closing stages. They did manage to open a three point lead once again in the second minute of injury time but commeth the hour, commeth the man. Antrim had one last chance, if you could even call it that when Gerard Walsh stood over a free 35 yards from goal. Walsh drilled low and the sliotar evaded everyone to nestle in the bottom corner of the net with what was the last action of the game.
A fantastic end to what was a gripping second half of hurling. Antrim look ahead now to the visit of Laois in seven days time in a winner takes all contest. If ever there was a time to produce the goods, this was it. The Saffrons go into that game on the back of what was their best performance of the year and while it may have been points shared at Cullen Park, this felt like a shift in mentality and momentum by the final whistle.
Onto the next one.
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Eoin McFerran, Paddy Burke, Stephen Rooney; Joe Maskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott; Eoin O’Neill, James McNaughton, Conor Johnston
Subs: Cormac McKeown for E O’Neill (32); Joseph McLaughlin for R McCambridge (64)
Scorers: J McNaughton 0-8 (6fs); K Molloy 1-1; G Walsh 1-00 (1-00f); C Johnston 0-2; E Campbell 0-2; E McFerran 0-1; C Bohill 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; C McKeown 0-1
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paidi O’Shea, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; Evan Kealy, Ciaran Whelan; Jon Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, John Doyle; Conor Kehoe, Chris Nolan, James Doyle
Subs: Paddy Boland for J Nolan (54); Ted Joyce for J Doyle (59); Donagh Murphy for C Kehoe (64)
Scorers: M Kavanagh 0-7 (5fs 1’65); C Nolan 1-3; J Doyle 0-3; F Fitzpatrick 0-2; C Whelan 0-2; J Nolan 0-2; C Kehoe 0-1; T Joyce 0-1
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)
To see more of Brendan’s pics from the Antrim v Carlow game please clink on the link below
https://myalbum.com/album/uGMDk6BmEVPmVZ/?invite=59441986-db14-4bab-af32-04c508c3e25a
