18 April 2010
A second-half collapse saw Antrim fall to a heavy defeat in their final game of the National Hurling League Divison 2 at Wexford Park
The Saffrons produced a good first half’s hurling and after falling 1-5 to 0-3 behind they hit back to lead by 1-9 to 1-6 at the break, the goal coming from a Neil McManus free.
However, Antrim suffered a bad blow before the interval as PJ O'Connell received a straight red card for a dangerous high pull on Wexford’s Keith Rossiter.
Within 50 seconds of the restart, Wexford had levelled with Peter Atkinson hammering home a rebound and as Wexford began to get on top Antrim struggled to contain them.
It took Antrim 24 minutes to record their first score of the second half, top scorer Paul Shiels breaking their duck, but by that stage, Wexford were already out of sight with two goals from Peter Atkinson. Rory Jacob slammed in a further goal for the home side as a high ball yet again caused consternation in the Saffron defence.
Bad as the result was the good news is that they Saffrons have avoided relegation to Division 3, something that would have been utterly disastrous for hurling in the county. However Dinny Cahill and his management team have a major job on their hands to raise spirits before next months Leinster Championship meeting with Offaly.
SCORERS -- Wexford: P Atkinson 2-4, R Jacob 2-3, D Lyng 0-5 (3f), S Banville 0-2, L Prendergast, C Kenny, C Farrell, Eoin Quigley (St Martin's) 0-1 each Antrim: P Shiels 0-6 (4f), N McManus 1-1 (1-1f), C McAlister 0-2, PJ O'Connell, E McCloskey, M Devlin 0-1 each.
WEXFORD -- N Carton; L Prendergast, K Rossiter, E Doyle; R Kehoe, C Kenny, M Travers; M Molloy, C Farrell; A Shore, Eoin Quigley (St Martin's), D Lyng; R Jacob, S Banville, P Atkinson. Subs: T Waters for Eoin Quigley (St Martin's) 44, M Jacob for Banville (55), H Kehoe for Doyle (56), P Kenny for Shore (61), Eoin Quigley (Rapparees) for R Kehoe (65).
ANTRIM -- C McConnell; B McFall, C Donnelly, A Graffin; N McAuley, J Campbell, C Herron; C McAlister, S McCrory; C McFall, P Shiels, E McCloskey; D Hamill, N McManus, PJ O'Connell. Subs: J McKeague for B McFall (inj 51), T McCann for McManus (63), M Devlin for McAlister (64), K McKeegan for Graffin (68).
REF -- S Roche (Tipperary).
