25 June 2011
From BBC
Antrim fought back from a shaky start to ease past Westmeath in Saturday's All-Ireland Football qualifier at Casement Park.
James Dolan's goal helped Westmeath lead 1-1 to 0-0 but Antrim responded with eight unanswered points, including three Gerard O'Boyle scores.
O'Boyle started instead of Paddy Cunningham who was introduced late on.
Antrim led 0-8 to 1-3 at half-time but James Loughrey's superb display helped the Saffrons stay in control.
Michael McCann sustained a hamstring injury late in the first half and said afterwards that he is unlikely to be fit for Antrim's next qualifier in two weeks.
While Cunningham didn't start for Antrim, Westmeath were also without their most renowned forward with Dessie Dolan dropping the bench because of injury.
Westmeath got off to a great start with John Heslin's opening point followed by James Dolan's goal after the forward ran all the way from half-back to slot past Sean O'Neill.
However, instead of building on their impressive start Westmeath badly lost their way with Antrim hitting eight unanswered scores.
In addition to O'Boyle three points, Tomas McCann, Conor Murray, Brendan Herron, Loughrey and Kevin Niblock were on target during Antrim's period of domination.
Westmeath regrouped somewhat to finish the half on a better note as Heslin and Brendan Murtagh notched scores to cut Antrim's lead to two.
The outcome remained in doubt in the third quarter as Antrim led only 0-10 to 1-6 but the Saffrons hit six of the closing seven points, including two fine efforts from Tony Scullion.
Dessie Dolan was introduced midway through the second half but clearly wasn't fully fit and made little impact.
The Saffrons should have won by a bigger margin as Aodhan Gallagher missed a glorious goal chance as his fluffed effort allowed ex-Allstar keeper Gary Connaughton to save.
FROM RTE:
Antrim scored six of this game's final seven points to earn their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier win in 10 years.
Westmeath started strongly at Casement Park with a John Heslin point and James Dolan's goal, however Antrim soon took control.
The Saffrons strung together eight unanswered points, including three from Gerard O'Boyle, to lead by 0-08 to 1-03 at half-time.
The sides were well matched in the third quarter but with James Loughrey showing well, Antrim pulled through to end a losing run in the qualifiers that stretched back to their 2001 win over Leitrim.
Referee Martin Sludden was a central figure in today's game which marked his first Championship appointment since last year's controversial Leinster final between Louth and Meath.
He awarded six yellow cards over the 70 minutes at the Belfast venue, while he also banished Westmeath boss Pat Flanagan to the stands late on.
Westmeath were dealt a major blow before the throw-in when a hamstring injury forced former All-Star Dessie Dolan out of the starting line-up.
Likewise, Antrim's sharpshooter Paddy Cunningham was a late withdrawal, but both Dolan and Cunningham were sprung from their respective benches in the second half.
Antrim may have claimed a comfortable six-point win, but it was Westmeath who burst into an early lead with teenager Heslin slotting over the opening point after 26 seconds.
The momentum continued to swing in favour of Flanagan's charges in the early stages. A long ball was delivered to the inrushing James Dolan and he tucked it away for the game's only goal.
The wing back's effort propelled the visitors into a 1-01 to 0-00 lead after just two-and-a-half minutes, but Westmeath lost their scoring streak as Antrim enjoyed a purple patch.
The Saffrons scored eight points without reply as Gerard O'Boyle, Conor Murray, Brendan Herron and Kevin Niblock reeling them off. Heslin and Brendan Murtagh replied in the closing stages for the Lakesiders, leaving two between the sides at the break.
Defences were in top in the opening five minutes of the second half, as both teams tried to add further to their tallies. Just a point separated the sides at the end of the third quarter following a Paul Greville score.
Dessie Dolan and Cunningham were both introduced into the fray with 19 minutes, in a bid to add freshness to their respective attacks.
However, Dolan's introduction failed to reap the dividends for Westmeath as despite the Garrycastle clubman knocking over a point, Antrim outscored Westmeath by six points to one in the fourth quarter.
Defender Tony Scullion landed two excellent points in the 57th and 68th minutes, and Cunningham, Herron and the assured Tomas McCann also raised white flags.
Goal chances were all too rare - midfielder Aodhan Gallagher went closest for Antrim in the dying minutes, but a superb save from Westmeath goalkeeper Gary Connaughton denied the St Gall's All-Ireland club winner.
Liam Bradley's charges were in cruise control as they got their summer campaign back on track after a disappointing exit from the Ulster Championship.
ANTRIM: S O'Neill; C Brady, R Johnston, K O'Boyle; T Scullion (0-02), J Crozier, A Healy; M McCann, A Gallagher; C Murray (0-01), T McCann (0-04, 0-02f, 0-02 '45'), J Loughrey (0-02); G O'Boyle (0-03, 0-02f), B Herron (0-02), K Niblock (0-01).
Subs used: S Burke for M McCann (24 mins), M Sweeney for Gallagher (46-48, blood sub), P Cunningham (0-01) for Murray (51), A Doughlas for C Brady (57), K Brady for O'Boyle (57), T O'Neill for T McCann (69).
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; M Curley, A Finnan, K Gavin; D Corroon, K Martin, J Dolan (1-00); D Daly, D Duffy; G Egan, J Heslin (0-04, 0-03f), D Harte; C Lynam, Denis Glennon, P Greville (0-01, 0-01f).
Subs used: B Murtagh (0-01) for Duffy (23 mins), D Dolan (0-01) for Greville (51), F Boyle for Corroon, P Sharry for Martin (both 60), David Glennon for Harte (67).
Referee: Martin Sludden (Tyrone)
