02 March 2013
Antrim 2.9, Fermanagh 1.12
If you’d been offered a draw before throw in an Antrim fan might have said ‘no way’. Asked halfway through the second half if a draw would suffice, the same fan might have bitten your hand off. At that stage we looked like paying the price for a first half littered with missed chances, dropped shots and a frustrating inability to move the ball beyond the massed ranks of Fermanagh defenders.
The first half was a low key, low scoring and low quality affair. Antrim spurned an early goal chance but it wasn’t long before another one came along courtesy of a fine catch and run from Sean Mcveigh who set up Kevin Niblock who finished brilliantly to the net. That gave us a slender advantage which we held almost to the break, when Fermanagh scored on the stroke of half time. We had a massive 18 scoring chances in the first half and a return of 1.2 from that possession is meagre and normally a precursor to a defeat.
Fermanagh made it very difficult for our players to impose the running/support game, their swarming tactics and tackles which frequently went over the line were reminiscent of a 2003 era Tyrone.
Maybe that’s no surprise.
In the second half Fermanagh ‘scored’ one goal which was disallowed for a foul, then had one chalked up which surely involved an infringement on Antrim keeper Chris Kerr. That’s to quibble though for there is no doubt that Fermanagh dominated the third quarter and when they went 4 points clear we were in deep trouble. At this point Kerr saved what looked like a certain goal and that was maybe the spur which kick started the Saffron fightback. Ryan Murray had replaced paddy Cunningham by this stage and he very quickly landed a wonder point, when Tomas McCann scored a long distance free the deficit was down to 2.
Antrim’s best move of the math followed; clean possession at midfield, a strong run from Conor Murray and a direct ball into Sean McVeigh was followed by a run and shot which raised a green flag and raised Antrim spirits. The supporters were in full voice and, unlikely as it may have seemed, we now led by 1. Fermanagh scored the next two points but again Antrim refused to buckle and McCann and Conor Murray scored the next two points which meant that we took a slender lead into the last few minutes.
Fermanagh piled forward and eventually were awarded a straightforward free to draw the match. The visitors were looking for a winning point when the Antrim rearguard stood firm and turned over possession. A melee followed which prevented Antrim from going in search of a winning point.
A draw was a fair result, both sides will feel disappointed not to have the win, and relieved not to have lost. Frank Dawson praised the character of his players afterwards and reckoned the point could prove vital come the end of the league. He is probably right.
A lot of Antrim big names underperformed; we clearly found it difficult to deal with the Fermanagh tactics; the referee didn’t impose his authority on the game, or on Fermanagh as he should have done; and yet……despite all that we didn’t lose. Too many Antrim teams in the past would have buckled when 4 points down, or when our one point lead was so quickly wiped out. The 2013 team and squad didn’t. They fought like they cared and they clearly do.
Antrim can travel to Wicklow next Sunday in good heart, and in search of points which will maintain a promotion challenge.
A special word for Chris Kerr. At the end of a difficult week he led out his county team, was captain for the night and under fierce pressure at times, he stood up tall. One second half save when we were 3 points down was vital. The minutes silence before the game was impeccably observed and showed the true nature of the wider GAA family. It was respect all round, followed by an almighty battle.
One in which the Saffrons stood their ground.
Brendan Mulgrew
PRO
