18 June 2011
Antrim withstood a great second-half fightback by Westmeath in Saturday’s All Ireland Qualifier opener at Casement Park on Saturday to book a place in next week’s second round against Carlow.
Two goals from corner-forward Conor McCann's helped the Saffrons to a comfortable ten point interval lead, and with the forwards playing some sparkling hurling against the fresh breeze they appeared to be cruising to massive win.
However, just as they did in their Leinster semi-final defeat to Wexford two weeks ago, Antrim failed to vary their tactics when playing with the breeze and Westmeath dominated the third quarter and closed the gap to just three.
Antrim were shaking and the victory which twenty minutes earlier had seemed certain now looked very much in the balance.
However they slowly but surely started to regain their composure, and boosted by a magnificent point from ninety-five yards from a Cormac Donnelly free they regained the upper hand and went on to win by nine.
McCann found the Westmeath net in the fifteenth minute and after Paul Greville pulled one back for the visitors the Creggan man grabbed number two to help his side to a 2-12 to 1-7 half-time lead.
Westmeath played some great hurling after the break and outscored Antrim by 9 points to 2 over the next twenty minutes to cut the gap to just three.
Donelly’s point, and some fine scores from Neill Mcmanus saw the Saffrons gain the upper-hand and they went on to book a place against Carlow on Saturday next.
Antrim: C O'Connell, C McGuinness, C Donnelly, Kieran McGourty, A Graffin, M Herron, N McAuley, P Shiels, C Herron, S McCrory, K Stewart, N McManus, C McCann, D Hamill, J Black. Subs: C Cunningham, Barry McFall, T McCann, K McKeague, C McFall, K Molloy, E McCloskey, K McKeegan, M Donnelly, P Doherty, J McCouaig, J Scullion, C Carson.
Westmeath: C Scally, C Flanagan, D McCormack, A McGrath, E Price, A Mitchell, P Gilsenan, P Dowdall, B Smyth (capt), C Curley, P Greville, B Murtagh, J Shaw, D McNicholas, D Carthy. Subs: S McGovern, J Gilligan, A Devine, A Craig, A Price, C Boyle, A Dermody, E Og Clarke, C Mackey, B Connaughton, K Martin.
