26 July 2010
Antrim bowed out of the All Ireland Senior Hurling championship when they were beaten by Cork in Sunday’s quarter-final in Croke Park. Though they never looked like winning the game the Saffrons turned in a highly creditable performance against a slick moving Cork side who now go on to meet All Ireland champions Kilkenny in two week’s time.
During the opening half Antrim held their illustrious opponents very well and as injury time approached they must have been very happy with their position as they trailed by just three points. However their hopes received a hammer blow when Cork’s Niall McCarthy got in for a brilliantly taken goal, and with Ben O’Connor adding two points the deficit was suddenly stretched to eight, a gap that was to prove unbridgeable.
To their credit Antrim did hold their own in the second-half and on a few occasions had the gap back to six, but Cork were always able to find a response when it was needed and safely held the upper-hand to the end.
Antrim got off to a slow start and Cork had four points on the board before Neill McManus opened the Saffrons account on eight minutes with a point from a free. Watson, who received a yellow card for an altercation with Cork full-back Eoin Caddigan, began to show what he can do with some superb score taking, and with McManus showing great accuracy from placed balls, the Ulster champions kept in touch.
Shane McNaughton hit a delightful point on the run and Watson sent over a real beauty from out on the Hogan Stand sideline, and with the clock ticking down towards half-time the Antrim fans in the 27,000 crowd must have been in high spirits.
However Cork’s quick smash and grab in first half injury time completely changed the complexion of the game and it meant that Antrim now needed goals if they were to upset the ever mounting odds.
With the Cork defence rock solid those goal chances were going to be hard to come by, though Neill McManus did come close when he caught a high ball on the edge of the Cork ‘square’, only to be hassled out it by some determined Cork defending. Liam Watson had the other two goal opportunities when Antrim were awarded twenty-metre frees but on both occasions his well struck shots were turned around for a ‘65’ and Cork’s safe cushion was maintained.
Overall it was highly creditable performance from the team. There is no doubt they have made great progress this season under Dinny Cahill and his coaching staff and if they remain in place next season this progress can be maintained. When Dinny came back there were many who wondered if it was a wise move after a very poor league campaign. However the progress since then has been excellent and a great showing in the Leinster championship against Offaly (when they eventually lost in extra time), and wins over Carlow and Dublin in the All Ireland qualifiers have made it a very enjoyable season.
In truth we probably knew going into Sunday’s quarter-final that Cork would be level too far, but they played really well and can hold their heads high and we can look forward to next season with optimism.
Cork: D. Og Cusack; S. Murphy, E. Cadogan, B. Murphy; J.Gardiner (0-3), R.Curran, R. Ryan; T. Kenny (0-3), C. Naughton (0-2); B. O'Connor (0-6), M. Cussen, N. McCarthy (1-2); P. O'Sullivan (0-3), A.O’hAilpin (0-1), K. Murphy (0-4).
Subs: P. Horgan for O’hAilpin, P. Cronin for Cussen, W. Egan (0-1) for McCarthy
Antrim: C. O'Connell; K. McGourty, C. Donnelly, S. Delargey; P. Shiels, J. Campbell (0-1), C. Herron; S. McNaughton (0-1), K. Stewart; S. McCrory, N. McManus (0-9), T. McCann; P. J. O'Connell, L. Watson (0-6), K. McKeegan (0-1).
Subs: J. McKeague for Shiels, B. McFall for McCann, M. Herron (0-1) for McKeigue, D.Hamill for P. J. O'Connell, E. McCloskey for McNaughton.
Ref: M. Wadding (Waterford).
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