Division Four final: Louth 3-12 Antrim 1-14
SATURDAY’S League final defeat might just be the best medicine for the Antrim senior footballers as the clock ticks down to their Ulster SFC showdown with Fermanagh in 20 days’ time.
The Saffrons may have lost their unbeaten record in this year’s National Football League – but if you’re going to lose a game, you might as well lose a League final.
Those beyond the nuanced borders of Gaelic Games wouldn’t understand this peculiar mantra.
With Antrim and Louth already promoted to Division Three next season, it was the ‘Wee County’ who went up as champions, overturning a five-point deficit after 38 minutes to win by four.
Second half goals by man-of-the-match Jim McEneaney – son of former Louth boss Eamonn – and hard-working full-forward Conor Grimes were the crucial scores that swung Saturday’s lively Division Four decider in Louth’s favour.
While the hurt of losing in Croke Park shouldn’t be too damaging for the Ulstermen, their tepid second half performance should serve as a timely warning ahead of facing an improved Fermanagh side at Brewster Park in less than three weeks’ time.
“You’re not going to concede three goals and win a final of any description,” said Antrim’s joint manager Frank Fitzsimons.
“We’re disappointed with some of the goals we conceded. I thought we could have pushed on, especially when we were four or five ahead early in the second half. But credit to Louth, they were very strong.”
The fact that Tomas McCann fired over a brilliant placed ball to level the tie in the first minute of stoppage-time shouldn’t disguise Antrim’s problems.
Their downfall was failing to register a score between the 38th and 61st minutes of this decider.
Louth hit 1-3 in Antrim’s barren spell to edge ahead and the Leinster men always looked the more likely team to close out the game in the latter stages.
“I think we had six wides in a row and one or two dropped into the ‘keeper’s hands, and that’s the difference,” added Fitzsimons.
“If you want to go to the next level you want the scoreboard to be ticking over at times like that and for us it didn’t happen.”
And yet, for all of their second half woes, Antrim were full value for their four-point interval lead with wing-forwards Matthew Fitzpatrick and Conor Murray looking dangerous on the counter-attack, while Cargin quartet Michael McCann, Kevin O’Boyle, John Carron and Tomas McCann offered the side plenty of composure in possession.
The Saffrons were undeterred by Derek Maguire’s early major for Louth particularly with Tomas McCann on song.
But the ease with which the untracked Maguire stole into enemy territory should have been a warning sign to Antrim.
Grimes wriggled free of full-back Conor Burke and found his raiding half-back in loads of room to ripple Antrim’s net after five minutes.
Matthew Fitzpatrick cancelled out Louth’s major in the 31st minute with a brilliant low finish to the net after excellent approach play from Conor Murray and Kevin Niblock, although Derek Maguire was badly caught out ball-watching rather than minding Fitzpatrick.
It put Antrim 1-7 to 1-4 ahead and with a couple more converted frees from Tomas McCann the northerners led 1-9 to 1-5 at half-time.
Tomas McCann hit the score of the day seconds after the restart from distance and with his weaker left foot and thumped over another free in the 38th minute.
But that’s when the wheels came off for Antrim.
Although Fitzsimons rued his side’s lamentable shooting, Louth were equally poor in front of goal. What was perhaps more worrying for Fitzsimons and co-boss Gearoid Adams was how easily Louth broke Antrim’s defensive lines.
Kevin O’Boyle did a sterling job as Antrim’s sweeper but as a team they were too slow to funnel back to kill the space that Louth would gratefully exploit as the second half wore on.
In the 59th minute, McEneaney raced clear to shoot into the corner of Antrim’s net and Grimes should never have been allowed to break free deep into stoppage-time to grab Louth’s third three-pointer of the day that won the game.
“We were probably not getting back and setting up quickly enough,” Fitzsimons acknowledged.
“To play any defensive game the ball needs to go dead at the other end. Once a team builds up momentum on you it’s very, very hard to get back.
“And you’re actually going back 40 or 50 yards, turning and then trying to make a tackle. It’s very hard to do that. We’ve preached it all year about putting the ball dead – whether it’s over the bar or scoring a goal.
“We’ve plenty to work on coming up to Championship. It’s time for everybody to step up. We’ve three weeks and there are plenty of places up for grabs. There is nobody assured of their place.”
Fitzsimons’ warning will undoubtedly encourage Antrim’s eager bench that included Justin Crozier, Mark Sweeney, Patrick McBride, Ryan Murray and the unused Sean McVeigh.
“To me, that’s it. We’re back for Championship on Monday night. That’s us brought down to earth now. In a way, I’m glad that it’s out of the way.”
Louth boss Colin Kelly, who is assisted by former Derry manager Paddy Crozier, revealed afterwards that they had detected gaps in the Antrim defence during their drawn
League encounter at Corrigan Park earlier this month.
“We probably didn’t support the play enough in the first half,” Kelly acknowledged.
“We were attacking individually rather than in groups and all through the year we have been attacking in numbers. But in the second half our ball retention was good, our support play was good and we knew then that we’d breach them.
“After the game at Corrigan Park we knew we had the capabilities to get behind them.”
Alongside Jim McEneaney, Declan Byrne (0-3), Grimes and midfield pairing James Stewart and James Califf put in huge shifts for the ‘Wee’ County as they gear up for their Leinster Championship clash with Carlow in a few weeks’ time.
“We’ll get the boys down after this,” Kelly added.
“We’ve three weeks until Carlow. The last time we won a divisional final up here, three weeks later Carlow beat us in Portlaoise. So we won’t be getting carried away with ourselves.”
Louth: C Lynch; P Rath, P Reilly, K Toner; D Maguire (1-2), D McMahon, E Lafferty; J Stewart, J Califf (0-2 frees); D Byrne (0-3), J McEneaney (1-1), T Durnin; C McKeever, C Grimes (1-0), R Burns (0-4, 0-3 frees); Subs: J Bingham for K Toner (13), R Moore for D McMahon (43), G McSorley for R Burns (75)
Blood Subs: G McSorley for J McEneaney (51-54) Yellow cards: D Byrne (30), A Williams (54) Black cards: J Bingham replaced by A Williams (35-35)
Antrim: C Kerr; N Delargy, C Burke, R Johnson (0-1); K O’Boyle, M Johnson, J Laverty; N McKeever, J Carron; M Fitzpatrick (1-1), K Niblock, C Murray (0-2); B Neeson (0-1 free), M McCann, T McCann (0-8, 0-5 frees); Subs: R Murray for B Neeson (48), P McBride (0-1) for J Carron (53), D McAleese for M Fitzpatrick (58), M Sweeney for J Laverty (63), J Crozier for C Burke (67) Yellow cards: N Delargy (48), C Burke (51)
Referee: J Henry (Mayo)
PLAYER RATINGS
LOUTH
Craig Lynch: Louth’s kick-out strategy was largely successful and Lynch avoided McKeever and opted to go short on a number of occasions. No chance with Fitzpatrick’s goal. 7
Padraig Rath: Saw his effort cleared off the line by O’Boyle in the second half but also came off second best in his battle with Tomas McCann. 5.5
Patrick Reilly: The Louth full-back helped keep tabs on Neeson and acted as a sweeper in front of Antrim’s two-man full-forward line. An impressive showing. 7.5
Kevin Toner: Started off on Neeson but was replaced after just 12 minutes. Not on long enough to be rated.
Derek Maguire: An eventual day for the wing-back. Scored 1-2 but let Conor Murray away for two points and picked up a booking late on. 7
Darren McMahon: McMahon was solid at the heart of the Louth defence. Kept Kevin Niblock reasonably quiet and marshalled his defence well. 7
Eoghan Laverty: The Louth wing-back was troubled by the effort and industry of Fitzpatrick, who scored 1-1 from play. 6
James Stewart: Was the least effective of the midfield quartet and picked up a booking late on for a lazy foul on Ryan Murray. 6
James Califf: Recovered from a shocking early wide to play a key role in Louth’s win. Scored two frees and won a number of breaking balls in the second half. 7.5
Declan Byrne: One of Louth’s best forwards, Byrne was a constant threat and kicked 0-3 from play in an impressive performance. 8.
Jim McEneaney: STARMAN
Was absent for a brief spell when he required treatment in the first half but the knock didn’t appear to have a lasting effect as McEneaney set about leading the Louth fightback. His power and pace helped the Wee county battle back from four points down at half-time. Hit 1-1 for his side and won a free after his goal which Burns converted. 8.5
Tommy Durnin: Kicked a couple of poor wides and struggled to make an impact against the in-form O’Boyle. 6
Conal McKeever: Was well-held by Ricky Johnston and kicked a bad wide late on. 6
Conor Grimes: His size and power caused Conor Burke difficulty and his late goal proved to be the winning of the game. Also had a hand in Maguire’s major. 7.5
Ryan Burns: Missed a couple of chances in the first half but finished strongly and contributed 0-4. 7.5
Substitutes
John Bingham: Came on for Toner early on but lasted just 23 minutes after picking up the game’s only black card for hauling down Fitzpatrick. 4
Anthony Williams: Introduced for Bingham and had a solid game in the Louth defence. 6.5
Ruairi Moore: A fine cameo from Moore, who provided the assist for the match-winner from Grimes. 6.5
Gerard McSorley: Not on long enough to be rated
ANTRIM
Chris Kerr: Beaten three times but Louth’s goals were well-executed. Varied his kick-outs well and made a smart save to deny Declan Byrne. 6.5
Niall Delargy: Struggled to contain Ryan Burns and picked up a booking midway through the second half. 6
Conor Burke: Conceded a couple of cheap frees and was lucky to remain on the pitch after fouling Tommy Durnin minutes after being booked. 5.5
Ricky Johnston: Held Conal McKeever scoreless and got forward to kick a good score in the first half. A solid performance. 7
Kevin O’Boyle: Excellent defensive positioning allowed O’Boyle to make two great interceptions and a vital goal-line clearance to deny Padraig Rath. 7.5
Martin Johnston: Had the unenviable task of marking Jim McEneaney and the Louth centre-forward dominated their duel. 6
James Laverty: Wasn’t able to break forward as much as usual and was put on the back foot by Declan Byrne, who hit 0-3 from play. 6
Niall McKeever: Mixed day at the office for McKeever. Won his fair share of primary possession but hit the post and kicked one bad wide. 6.5
John Carron: Started the game well but faded in the second half as James Califf became the game’s dominant midfielder. 6
Matthew Fitzpatrick: Scored 1-1 from play and took his goal with aplomb just before the break. Somewhat unlucky to be substituted midway through the second half. 7
Kevin Niblock: Picked up a heavy knock in the warm-up and struggled to exert his usual influence on proceedings but worked tirelessly throughout and supplied the pass for Fitzpatrick’s goal. 6.5
Conor Murray: Kicked two points from play and put in a decent shift throughout. 7
Brian Neeson: Marked by two men at times, ‘Bam’ scored just one free and kicked four wides before being called ashore after 47 minutes. 6
Michael McCann: Like Neeson, McCann didn’t have one of his better days. Was composed in possession but didn’t pose a scoring threat in a deeper role. Blasted a late shot wide of the target. 6
Tomas McCann: Antrim’s best player by some distance, McCann was unfortunate to be on the losing team. Finished with 0-8 to his credit and kicked some excellent frees. 8
Substitutes
Ryan Murray: Replaced Neeson on 47 minutes but kicked a wide with his first effort and later fumbled possession when Antrim were on the attack. 5.5
Paddy McBride: Kicked a fine point as Antrim recovered from McEneaney’s goal but also missed a point late on. 6
Dermot McAleese: Failed to wield any influence on the game after coming on for Fitzpatrick for the final 13 minutes. 5.5
Mark Sweeney: A surprise absentee from the starting 15 but the St Jude’s clubman couldn’t gain a foothold in the final 10 minutes. 5.5
Justin Crozier: Not on long enough to be rated
