10 February 2014
Surely yesterday’s match with Wicklow will go down as yet another which ‘got away’ from Antrim. It is hard to recall when we last scored 1.13 in a game (1.11 from open play) and yet emerged with no points to show for the huge effort the team put in.
The match went ahead at Ahoghill despite the efforts of the wreckers who were never going to succeed in disrupting our games and the St Mary’s club deserve credit for the way the game was stewarded and hosted. It was a pity that nobody could do anything about the cold. Man, it was cold. The wind was a factor in the game and it was the visitors who had the advantage in the opening half. Wicklow quickly ran up a 1.3 to no score lead, their goal coming from a penalty which Antrim keeper Chris Kerr was unlucky not to keep out. Wicklow had yet another goal chance which was spurned and it looked like Antrim were in danger of being blown away.
However it was now that Antrim stood tall and playing into the strong breeze, began to pick off scores, the most impressive from CJ McGourty who was teaming up well with Tomas McCann. The defence had settled down now too and some terrific interventions from Kevin O’Boyle, Justin Crozier and Niall Delargy restricted Wicklow to just one more point. Tony Scullion also made his presence felt, particularly with a legitimate ‘hit’ on Seanie Furlong which left the corner forward needing some prolonged attention.
By half time it was a 2 point game and with wind advantage to come surely it looked good for a first league win of the year. However Wicklow started the second half more brightly and registered the first 2 points – before Antrim completely took over. We hit 1.5 without reply and those scored included terrific long range points from McGourty, Michael Pollock and a sublime goal from McCann. When he was running through the half back line there was only one outcome and he sent the ball to the roof of the net.
We were now 3 up and when the ref awarded a penalty is seemed to signal an inevitable victory. However the keeper saved and although Tomas hit a point from the resultant free to give us a 4 point lead, Wicklow took heart. They goaled from open play before being awarded a second penalty which, after what seemed an age, was put beyond Kerr and gave the visitors a 2 point lead. Ryan Murray had come on and he brought the match back to a one point game.
Tomas McCann had a chance from a free and there were a couple of dropped shots and misplaced final balls at this stage while the Saffrons looked for an equalizer. Instead it was Wicklow who hit the last point of an entertaining game to win by 2.
Antrim contributed much to this game and while there were mistakes which need worked on there was also plenty to admire. A scoreline of 1.13 will win many matches and the workrate from all was beyond question.
Division 4 is very tight, with yesterday’s two draws in other games mean that no team is out of the promotion equation yet, though Antrim would need 5 wins from the remaining games to have a shout. In truth though an opening salvo of an away game to a buoyant Leitrim and a home match against last year’s other relegated side was always likely to represent two of the Division’s harder fixtures.
By the time the league gets up and running again we will hopefully have a full complement of players to call on. Five from five? Let’s aim for a home win over Waterford and take it from there.
