[ad_1]
Antrim secured the Division 2A title and promotion back to the top flight by overcoming Kerry’s challenge in a highly entertaining game at Tullamore this afternoon.
The Saffrons only had a little more on offense to rack up a winning tally despite the best efforts of Shane Conway, who scored the leading scorer at 1-14 for The Kingdom, but that stat, while impressive, also highlighted the overconfidence of Kerry on her talisman for scores.
Antrim was always able to find an answer when Kerry seemed to be coming back to this game and scored twice for goals after conceding just before to ensure the balance tipped in his favor and he valued his win of the day to the full.
They took an early hit with Neil McManus forced out injured after just four minutes and it took a while for them to settle down, but they slowly took over and opened the scoring through the excellent Conal Cunning.
Shane Conway was quick to get into this game and scored Kerry’s first four scores, but Antrim had a better spread with Joe Maskey, James McNaughton and Niall McKenna adding another pair for Cunning as Antrim took a 0-6 to 0-4 lead. on the breakwater.
The sides were score for score with Paddy Burke and Cunning responding to the efforts of Mikey Boyle and Conway, but Kerry was starting to come up around the middle third and this saw them come out front with Michael Leane bouncing in a challenge to bring them to. one and then at 23 minutes, while Conway freely broke Mikey Boyle, who pitched into the net.
After a points exchange, Antrim responded with his own goal in the 27th minute when Domhnall Nugent got into a long delivery from Joe Maskey and appeared inside for Conor McCann to pick up, dunk in and find the net to put the Saffrons on. one ahead.
That was the difference at halftime with Antrim leading 1-12 to 1-11.
Kerry struggles to find her rank early in the second period with a threesome. wide, while Antrim was much more clinical and came close to a goal in seconds when Nugent shot over with the ball off the base of the post, but the ball was recycled with Michael Bradley on target.
Scores from McNaughton (two), McKenna and Cunning followed with Shane Conway knocking Kerry off the mark in the second period with eight minutes to spare.
Antrim was five ahead in the 57th minute before Kerry roared back when a free Conway inside his own half dribbled and duped Ryan Elliott, who couldn’t keep him from hitting the net. Another free from Conway followed as the gap narrowed to one, but just like in the first half, Antrim found an answer when Eoghan Campbell did a great job of getting in and playing an excellent cross ball for James McNaughton to pick it up, it go through and shoot him. I go down to the net.
Antrim was five up front once more as the game advanced into overtime thanks to the precision of Cunning and McNaughton from free practice, but Kerry continued to push with Conway leading the charge, making three of the last four points to score. but this was as close as they could get, as Antrim stood firm to claim victory and promotion to the top flight.
Antrim: R Elliott; P Duffin, M Donnelly, S Rooney; G Walsh, P Burke (0-1), J Maskey (0-1); E Campbell, K. Molloy; N McKenna (0-3), N McManus, M Bradley (0-1); C Astucia (0-10, 0-7f), C McCann (1-1), J McNaughton (1-5, 0-2f).
Subs: D Nugent (0-1) for N McManus (4), C Clarke for K Molloy (42), A O’Brien for N McKenna (55), D McCloskey for M Bradley (61), Ciaran Johnston for D Nugent (66 ). Blood Sub: E O’Neill for C Clarke (70 + 4, not reversed).
Kerry: M Stackpoole; J O’Connor, B Murphy, T O’Connor; C O’Keefe, J Diggins, F Mackessy; B O’Leary, S Nolan (0-1); S Conway (1-14, 1-9f, 0-2 65s), M O’Leary (0-1), M Leane (0-3); J Buckley, M Boyle (1-1), B Barrett.
Subs: E Leane for C O’Keefe (27), C Harty for J Buckley (52), M Slattery for B O’Leary (59), D Goggin for B Barrett (62).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
[ad_2]