23 January 2011
Failure to convert a host of chances, especially from frees, cost Antrim dearly in Sunday’s Walsh Cup quarter-final defeat by Dublin at Parnell Park. The Saffrons were beaten by seven points in the end but they missed six very scoreable frees in the second-half which would have had them much closer in the end.
Denied the services of the club tied Loughgiel and St John’s players Antrim fielded a largely experimental forward line, though they were boosted by the return of Neill McManus to the centre-forward position. Antrim were well on top during the opening quarter of the game and should have been much more that 0-3 to 0-0 ahead as they squandered a succession of chances.
With the Saffron’s defence well on top Dublin failed to trouble the scoreboard operator until the twenty-third minute when a David O’Callaghan ground shot was deflected to the net to bring the home team back on level terms. Boosted by the goal Dublin began to gain the upper hand and added four further points, though Antrim did come back with two of their own, one a brilliant effort from centre-back Michael Herron who struck a beauty from well inside his own half.
A goal within a minute of the restart from right-half forward Conor McCormack gave Dublin a stranglehold on the game and left Antrim with a mountain to climb, but after a shaky spell they settled and slowly began to get back in the game.
However they again found scores hard to come by and with the normally reliable Neill McManus firing wide on three occasions from placed balls he would normally convert, followed by Kevin McKeague and Karl McKeegan the chances went a begging.
However they never lacked anything in effort and they battled to the end with McManus and Michael Armstrong hitting some nice points, though the goal they needed to mount a serious challenge never really looked like coming.
Overall Dinny Cahill and his backroom team can be quite pleased with how things are at this stage of the season and with a host of regulars to return in the coming weeks they can look forward to the league with some optimism.
ANTRIM – Chris O’Connell, Arran Graffin, Cormac Donnelly, Conor McKinley, Neal McAuley, Michael Herron, Kevin McKeague, Shane McNaughton, Paddy McNaughton, Michael Armstrong, Neill McManus, Thomas McCann, Darren Hamill, Conor Carson, Christopher McGuinness.
SUBS – Liam Kearns for McGuinness; Karl McKeegan for Shane McNaughton; Ciaran Herron for Paddy McNaughton; James Black for Thomas McCann.
BBC online report
Goals in either half ensured Dublin progressed to the Walsh Cup semi-finals after the hosts claimed a 2-13 to 0-12 win over Antrim at Parnell Park.
Antrim made a strong start to the game with Neil McManus leading the charge to take an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead.
Dublin battled back thanks to a goal from David O'Callaghan to level the tie and then moved into a 1-4 to 0-5 interval lead.
A Conor McCormack goal helped to increase Dublin's winning margin.
Antrim were made pay for a number of second half wides as the Metropolitans held out for victory.
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