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Sunday, 21 February 2010

Antrim win by a point in NHL opener

Antrim’s Simon McCrory with Carlow’s Damien Roberts at Casement Park

A late free expertly converted by Liam Watson clinched Antrim a dramatic one point win over Carlow in their opening National Hurling League Division Two game at Casement Park on Sunday.

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Antrim 1-11 2-7 Carlow

There were just two minutes of regulation time remaining when the Loughguile half forward, who plays Championship soccer for Donegal Celtic, sent over the winning score.

It was a somewhat disjointed performance from the Saffrons against a plucky Carlow side, who had beaten Antrim in last season's corresponding fixture.

Nevertheless team manager Dinny Cahill, back at the helm for his second spell in charge, was pleased to get the win.

"It was nice to get the League campaign off on a winning note. We knew Carlow would be tough opponents after they also beat us in the Walsh Shield a week ago, and we saw that," said the Tipperary man.

"It's early days yet and it was positive enough to start with a win. At this stage we are only looking to our next game against Kildare.

"We have a very young squad and it's up to us (the management team) to get the best out of them."

Antrim will also play Laois and Down along with former All Ireland champions Clare and Wexford in the League before meeting Offaly in the Leinster Championship in May.

"It's a tough division but we will be doing our best to reach the final though if we don't succeed we will organize more games before we play Offaly," Cahill added.

Antrim made a blistering start to the game and when Martin Scullion latched on to a Neil McManus free to score a scrappy goal in the 13th minute they led 1-4 to 0-1.

But Carlow then scored three points without reply followed by a Craig Doyle goal which closed the gap to a single point.

But Watson's accuracy from frees, which was later to prove crucial, was illustrated when he sent the ball over the bar to help Antrim into a 1-6 to 1-4 interval lead.

Paudie Kehoe scored the first point of the second half to cut the margin to the minimum.

Excellent scores from Simon McCrory and Watson stretched Antrim's advantage but a neatly taken goal by Kehoe, who finished off a flowing move in the 49th minute enabled Carlow to draw level.

Frees from Neil McManus and Watson saw Antrim pull ahead 1-10 to 2-5 but scores from Andrew Gaule and Shane Kavanagh helped the Barrowsiders square things up again with six minutes remaining.

Four minutes later Watson stepped up to hold his nerve and deliver the winning point after Antrim had been awarded a free 30 metres out from the Carlow goal.