15 March 2010
Antrim 0-16 - Roscommon 0-14
On pre-match paper it was just another run out with every probability of an away win for Antrim in Dr Hyde Park. The final result alone was accurate in this premature and presumptuous assessment, because the match in itself turned to something of an epic battle, where Roscommon were in essence battling against the very real prospect of relegation to division iv.; not a good position to be in,, on March 13th, 2010.. There seems little doubt that had Roscommon played with such relentless determination and ferocity in their earlier league matches, that they would not now be so close to facing the almost inevitability of going down.
What that did for Antrim senior football was to put the team through another tough endurance test, arguably one of the most demanding to date and yet again they held both their nerve and their line. We are unquestionably witnessing a period within Antrim footballing history where we have now harnessed and honed some of the finest talent ever seen within our county; into one cohesive and harmonised unit. The going got really tough today and the instinctive and impressive response from the Antrim lads truthfully had to be witnessed to be fully appreciated; it was a proud day for the Antrim management team, along their growing band of supporters.
Both the application and interpretation of the new rules continues to be a source of frustration and confusion; arguably this is all too often taking away from the fluidity of many games. It should be said that whilst there were some eyebrow-raising decisions, from time to time, neither team could justify or sustain any allegation of unfair bias. Antrim corner back, Dermot Mc Cann, was yellow carded twice and in consequence automatically sent off, early in the game; that seemed harsh but the clear lesson is that rigid self-discipline is increasingly necessary and important and neither referees not umpires may be expected to tolerate repeating infringement.
Antrim took and maintained an early lead but unbalanced; with a man down almost for the entire match and the loss of Michael Magill with a torn hamstring put the team under severe pressure at times. Paddy Cunningham, a consummate corner forward and free taker, with nine points to his credit, was again key to Antrim’s success but it has to be said that this was in absolute terms and yet again, a whole-team effort, especially in the second half, John Finucane was tested in goal with a driving and powered shot by an increasingly desperate Roscommon second half effort.
At 9 points to 6 at half time with a good stiff breeze in their favour Antrim, who had taken the lead from outset and held it, throughout the entire game, were noticeably in control but never able to get too far out in front. At one point they managed 5 points in the lead, at 14 to 9 but in the last quarter Roscommon upped the anti and stormed the Antrim defences with relentless determination. 6 of Roscommon’s’ tally of 14 points came from frees. They too used the benefit of a strong breeze, in the second half; their number 14, who was outstanding on the day, at one point sending over a 60 yard free. The pressure was very much on Antrim, in an intense second half, but they were unbowed and showed some tremendous resilience. Some Roscommon Players were gratuitously arrogant at times and paid the ultimate penalty late in the second half, when their no 24 was shown a red card for dissent.
League leaders, with 8 points and three matches remaining, is an accurate reflection of the inordinate efforts and just rewards for the same, from an incomplete panel of Antrim senior footballers at this time. Some hard decisions are however otherwise unavoidable and inevitable after Wednesday next and the prospect of having an all Ireland winning club within our County is now well within the reach of St Galls; all things being equal on the day. Of one thing of which there is certainty is that Antrim football is very much in the ascendancy. Neither arrogance nor conceit has had any part to play in that achievement, whereas team spirit and harmony has been and is everything to the attainment of that level of success. Long may it last for this is still but a very pleasant and long overdue journey for your county, our county.
Scorers today: Paddy Cunningham 9 (6F), Michael Mc Cann 2, Michael Magill 1., James Loughery 1., Kieran Close 2., Justin Crozier 1.
Lawrence Smyth, Antrim County PRO.
Roscomon v Antrim - report by Paddy McIlwaine
NFL Div.3
Cunningham Haul Sees Antrim Home Again
Roscommon 0-14 Antrim 0-16
Antrim’s efforts to gain promotion gained further momentum when the travelled to Dr. Hyde park, Roscommon at the weekend and came away with a two point win over Roscommon to maintain their position at the top of Division 3.
Paddy Cunningham's continued his impressive scoring form with a nine-point haul as Liam Bradley’s men held their nerve to overcome a plucky and determined home side who now find themselves in the unenviable position of fighting the drop to Division 4.
The visitors exploded from the blocks and were five points to the good after only 11 minutes. However Roscommon, mainly through Donal Shine's excellent free-taking, reeled in the home side and trailed by 0-5 to 0-3 after 22 minutes.
Antrim suffered a major blow when Dermot McCann was dismissed for two yellow cards in the 26th minute. Roscommon couldn't capitalise though and Antrim went 0-9 to 0-6 ahead at the break. Roscommon played with a renewed determination in the first 10 minutes of the new half, but Antrim survived that period and made the Rossies pay with points from Cunningham (0-4), James Loughery and Kieran Close.
Shine kept Roscommon in the hunt but they had left themselves with too much to do.
SCORERS -- Antrim: P Cunningham 0-9 (0-5f), M McCann, K Close 0-2 each, M Magill, J Crozier, J Loughery 0-1 each. Roscommon: D Shine 0-9 (0-9f), K Higgins, G Heneghan 0-2 each, J Rogers 0-1.
ANTRIM -- J Finnucane; D McCann, A Douglas, K O'Boyle; T Scullion, J Crozier, D O'Hagan; M McCann, B Herron; K Close, T McCann, J Loughery; P Cunningham, M Magill, G O'Boyle. Subs: C Murray for Magill (25), C Fleming for Boyle (70).
ROSCOMMON -- G Claffey; S McDermott, M Killelea, S Orsmby; P Domican, C Cregg, M O'Carroll; M Finneran, B Higgins; J Connaughton, D Casey, K Higgins; J Rogers, D Shine, G Heneghan. Subs: P Garvey for Connaughton (51), E Kenny for Finneran (51), C Dineen for Domican (54), C Garvey for B Higgins (65).
REF -- T Quigley (Dublin).
