15 January 2011
Antrim got their Dr McKenna Cup campaign off to a winning start at a rain drenched Casement Park on Saturday evening with a 2-12 to 0-9 win over St Mary’s in Section C.
Liam Bradley's men were in top form and after an impressive opening half they led by 1-7 to 0-2 at the break, the goal coming from St Enda’s Dean O'Neill in the thirty-second minute after a fine solo run and finish.
The pleasing thing about that first-half display was the spread of scored throughout the team as Paddy Cunningham, Conor McGourty, Mark Sweeney and Terry O'Neill also got their names on the scoreboard.
St Mary's battled hard after the restart and points from Kevin Mossey and Mark McKenna kept them in contention.
Paddy Cunningham stretched the Antrim lead to 1-7 to 0-4 but St Mary's stayed in touch when Mark McKenna again found the target, and when substitute Oisin Mac Iomhair knocked over a free they reduced their arrears to just four points. (1-7 to 0-6)
A third point from CJ McGourty pulled Antrim five clear and though St Mary's kept battling to the end a late Kevin Niblock goal sealed the Saffrons win.
