08 February 2009
Corner forward CJ McGourty scored 3-5 as Antrim footballers recorded a facile win over Division 4 whipping boys Kilkenny in Saturday's Allianz National Football League Division 4 clash at Nowlan Park.
A welcome win for the Saffrons no doubt after last week’s draw with Wicklow, but just what good such a result will do for either side is hard to figure out.
Antrim led 2-6 to 0-0 after 10 minutes and continued their total domination throughout the match.
Other to get their name on the scoreboard were Paddy Cunningham, who hit 0-9, Ciaran Close who scored 1-3 and midfielder Michael McCann who contributed 0-4.
Antrim: J Finucane; C Brady, S McVeigh, K O'Boyle; T Scullion, D O'Hagan, J Crozier; M McCann (0-4), A Gallagher (0-1); J Loughrey (0-1), C Close (1-3), C Murray (0-1); K Brady (0-1), P Cunningham (0-9), CJ McGourty (3-5). Subs: B Hasson; K McQuillan; D Edwards; M Pollock (0-1); M Dougan (0-1); N O'Connell.
Kilkenny: JJ O'Sullivan; M Dowling, P Dollard, T Nolan; N Roche, P Roche, D Walton; D Lyng, E Brennan; S Brennan, M Murphy, D McCormack (0-4); R Shore, C Roche (0-1), L Brennan. Subs: T Keogh; M Saunders; P Mullins; P Raftice; J Mackey; M Nolan.
Antrim 4 – 27 Kilkenny 0- 5 - Times change and we change with them.
It was cold in Kilkenny today and the chilling breeze was both crisp and biting but the display of football and sustained team effort, on the part of Antrim senior Footballers was fiery and heart-warming. Antrim have a spirited leader in Liam Bradley. That in turn is being well supported by Niall Conway and Paddy Mc Neill. The combined efforts of these three key figures is clearly in evidence on the field of play.
This score-line today is arguably more representative of something delivered by Kilkenny Hurlers, given opportunity, but there was to be no such proffered opportunity against a hungry and focused Antrim team, who for too long have been in a wilderness. Effective team-work is the uncompromising demand and as such was the absolute focus today. Antrim players effectively put Kilkenny senior footballers to the sword; cruel but in so doing they proved that coordination and cohesion as a team was the way forward. No less than ten Antrim Players made their mark on to the score sheet today.
Reinforcing the value of cohesive team work, on the part of Antrim, has been the fact that they have conceded only one point from play, in their last two matches. That is a factual statistic of which any team, in any discipline, or at any level would be justly proud. Kilkenny are poor opposition by any standards, in terms of their competence in Gaelic football, so realistically there are few credits and no surprise in an away win for Antrim. A win today was not the focal point of this exercise today; the clinical application of structured play, to maximum effect, was the primary objective – essential confidence building.
What was and is significant is that Antrim are today in the early stages of a long awaited metamorphic process and that, as a county we have in abundance the material to effect and to sustain real change. The emphasis has to be on process at this time because there is much work still to do. That said some of the performances on the field are drawing attention and for the right reasons. An analysis of the play today is significant – success is unquestionably down to inordinate whole team effort. Long may that continue.
CJ Mc Gourty blazed a trail today, with 3 goals and 5 points – credit where credit is due; he is truly a gifted young player. Paddy Cunningham, who was showing a bit of ring rust last week, understandably, after such a very long lay off, ratcheted up 9 points, to give notice to the effect that he is back with intent. Michael Mc Cann also took four points. In fact Antrim’s three forwards, three half forward, two mid fielders and two subs, all got in on the act and on the score sheet; again it must be said down to unselfish team effort.
Kilkenny were played of the field in the first half, ending with 3-14 to 0-3. [Kilkenny got three points from frees] They were more physical and disruptive in the second half, visibly out of their depth and perhaps somewhat irritated at being embarrassed on their home ground. Despite the physicality of some of the tackles and considerable intervention by the referee, Antrim withstood the test and went on to score 1 – 13 in the second half to a response of 0-2 by Kilkenny [again with one point from a free and one from a fisted free]. This was to be Antrim’s day in the winter sun.
Mickey Harte, had he witnessed this game, might have had reason to smile knowingly, or even comment, on the closing down style of Antrim defenders to day – It was reminiscent of Tyrone’s dogmatic attitude in defence – one of - you are not coming through here! Team building for success is a process of hard work and good cooperation – Antrim have begun that process. They deserve support at every level. Lawrence Smyth PRO