03 March 2012
Superbly taken goals from Paddy Cunningham and Thomas McCann saw Antrim move to the top of Division 3 of the Allianz National Football League as they cruised to a nine point win over Offaly at Casement Park on Saturday night.
Cunningham grabbed his team’s first goal in the 23rd minute when he finished off a brilliant move involving Michael McCann and Brian Neeson to help the Saffrons to a 1-8 to 0-6 half-time lead, though their task was made easier by the harsh dismissal of Offaly full-back Shane Sullivan.
McCann had the green flag flying thirty seconds after the restart when the Erin’s Own clubman weaved through to score a magnificent goal and stretch his team’s lead to eight points.
Antrim appeared to be home and hosed but they lost their concentration and when William Mulhall got in for an Offaly goal after 43 minutes the gap was cut back to just four.
To their credit Antrim responded and were soon back in total control as they eased away to win comfortably in the end.
Antrim team manager Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley described his side's display as "impressive enough".
"We won by nine points but missed a lot of chances - the quality of the opposition was not great.
"We scored two superb goals and had eight different scorers so that is all encouraging for us."
The Saffrons now top the table on six points but Bradley knows there is still a lot of work to be done as they are now entering the toughest part of the campaign with away games to come against Roscommon, Longford and Cavan, with just one more home game against Wexford.
ANTRIM – Chris Kerr, Patrick Galalgher, Deaghlan O’Hagan, Mark McAleese, Tony Scullion, Justin Crozier, James Loughrey, Michael McCann, Conal Kelly, Tomas McCann, Kevin Brady, Michael Armstrong, Brian Neeson, Mark Sweeney, Paddy Cunningham.
SUBS – M Johnston for M McAleese; M Magill for K Brady; S Finch for T Scullion; R Murray for B Neeson; A Gallagher for P Cunningham.
OFFALY – A Mulhall, J Galalgher, S Sullivan, K Lynam, B Darby, j Moloney, S Pender, B Connor, N Smith, J Keance, A McNamee, N Dunne, A Sullivan, W Mulhall, K Casey.
Referee – C Brannigan (Down)