11 April 2010
Despite losing the final game of the season to Wexford at Wexford Park, Antrim qualified for the National Football League Division 3 final and secured promotion for the second season in a row.
Antrim made a poor start and the home side were 1-1 to no score ahead after three minutes, the goal coming from Eric Bradley, but four unanswered points from Thomas McCann (2), Terry O’Neill and Gerard O’Boyle had the Saffrons level by the fifteenth minute.
Wexford regained the initiative and three points on the trot from placed balls by dual star Ciaran ‘Gizzy’ Lyng put the home team back in the driving seat, but Antrim hit back well and three points from Paddy Cunningham and one from Brendan Herron edged them ahead for the first time.
Wexford regained the upper hand just before the break and Lyng again found the target to edge his team ahead at the break by 1-6 to 0-8.
Paddy Cunningham brought Antrim back on level terms early in the second-half with a point from a free but Wexford regained the lead when Redmond Barry broke down an Antrim attack and soloed through to score a fine point.
Antrim levelled again when Brendan Herron fired over his second point from play and they edged ahead when Thomas McCann fired over, but Lyng added his fifth and sixth points of the game to put the home side back in front and Shane Roche secured a two point win for the home side with an injury time point.
A disappointing result overall and Liam Bradley will not be pleased at losing on the day, but promotion of the second season in a row is an excellent achievement and he will be looking forward to another league final tilt with Sligo in two weeks time.
