Joe McDonagh Cup Round robin series: Antrim 3-22 Offaly 2-24
THE Antrim hurlers have played much better in games this year and lost. At Corrigan Park on Saturday afternoon, they posted a patchy display against Offaly, but finally got the rub of the green in a big game.
Their NHL Division 1B campaign was very much a case of ‘could have – should have’, as they ended up needing a play-off win over Offaly to secure their top flight status.
In Navan three weeks ago, they pulverised the Faithful County but on home soil Michael Fennelly’s men proved a much tougher nut to crack despite the visitors playing the last 24 minutes with 14 men following the dismissal of midfielder Jack Screeney for two bookable offences.
With Antrim uncertain in defence, Offaly looked as though they were timing their run to perfection to take the spoils in this entertaining Joe McDonagh opener in west Belfast.
The visitors led towards the end of the first half and although Antrim forged ahead in the second period, Offaly were always within striking distance.
A Paddy Clancy goal and an Eoghan Cahill free edged Offaly in front by a point in stoppage-time – but cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Battling back from a couple of injuries, Conor Johnston has flickered in the saffron jersey this season. On Saturday, he was on fire, grabbing a game-winning 2-2 in the second half.
Antrim started brightly but Offaly pegged them back by half-time with Conor McCann grabbing the only goal of the first half.
Johnston grabbed his first major of the day in the 57th minute but the visitors replied immediately with a goal of their own through David Nally.
Entering five minutes of stoppage-time, Antrim led by three points before Offaly hit them with a quick-fire 1-2 thanks to Clancy's goal and two Eoghan Cahill frees.
But with one minute of stoppage-time remaining, Johnston kept cool to find the corner of Offaly's net and celebrate his second major of the day.
Cahill replied with a free in the last puck of the game before the final whistle as Antrim breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The Saffrons are up and running as they look ahead to a rare Ulster derby with Down in Ballycran next weekend, who scored an impressive Joe McDonagh victory down in Kerry.
Antrim: R Elliott; R McGarry (0-1), G Walsh, S Rooney; P Burke (0-2), E Campbell, S Walsh; J Maskey, K Molloy (0-1); S Elliott (0-1), D Nugent, C McCann (1-1); C Cunning (0-10, 0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘65), C Clarke (0-3), C Johnston (2-2) Subs: J McNaughton (0-1) for K Molloy (h/t inj) P Duffin for S Rooney (54), M Donnelly for S Walsh (63), D McKernan for S Elliott (64), C Bohill for D Nugent (69)
Yellow card: C McCann (29), D Nugent (64), P Duffin (75)
Offaly: S Corcoran; J Keenaghan, D King, P Cantwell; E Parlon, B Connelly, E Kelly; J Screeney, L Fox (0-1); A Cleary (0-1), E Cahill (0-14, 0-11 frees, 0-1 ’65, 0-1 sideline), B Duignan (0-1); S Cleary (0-2), J Sampson (0-1), D Nally (1-3) Subs: L O’Connor (0-1) for S Cleary (48), J Murphy for L Fox (53), K Sampson for B Duignan (54), C Burke for E Parlon (63) P Clancy (1-0) for A Cleary (68)
Yellow card: J Keenaghan (29), J Screeney (38 & 51),
Red card: J Screeney (38 & 51)
Referee: C Mooney (Dublin)
