15 January 2012
Antrim opened their Casement 2012 yearbook this afternoon and while a 5 point defeat to Tyrone means that last year’s McKenna Cup progress won’t be matched, there was still plenty of positives to be taken from what was an entertaining game.
Antrim started with a few new faces as Baker and his team continue the search for new Saffron talent, and a few boys will have enhanced their chances of a gaining a place on the team come the league. In the opening exchanges possession was shared but Tyrone had more shots at the posts. The 3 times All Ireland champions had left their shooting boots somewhere on the M1 however and hit too many wides.
Four of Antrim’s first half points came from play and there some excellent scores among them from midfielder Conal Kelly and in particular Brian Neeson. Indeed Neeson shone brightly in the first half and alongside his two points he could have had two more only for one dropping short and another hitting the post. Paddy Cunningham was playing a deeper role and hit a terrific score from play and one from a free to leave Antrim with a two point half time lead.
By this stage the Red Hands had already looked to the bench for a bit of experience and had introduced someone called Stephen O’Neill. They upped the tempo at the start of the second half and hit 6 unanswered points to race into a 4 point lead.
Antrim too had experienced players to call on and the introduction of Aodhán Gallagher and Tomas McCann steadied things at midfield and provided another focal point of the attack. Conal Kelly’s second point of the game signalled a Saffron revival and further scores from McCann and Cunningham brought Antrim to within a point of Tyrone.
At this time the game turned; Tomas McCann collected a great ball and hit a powerful shot on the run bringing off a great save from John Devine. Shortly afterwards the Antrim half forward unit lost possession and in the subsequent play Tyrone went the length of the field, exploiting space, and eventually Stephen O’Neill netted. Had McCann’s effort gone in, who knows?
Afterwards Liam Bradley took the positives from the game.
“We don’t like losing and it didn’t look a 5 point game. If one of our goal chances had gone in, it could have been different but our lads will learn from that.”
Next up for Antrim is the final Power NI McKenna Cup game V Queens on Wednesday night, before the national league starts on Saturday 4th February.
Brendan Mulgrew
