Improved second-half showing sees Antrim home

Division 2

Kildare 2-7 Antirm 1-19

A MUCH improved second-half showing by Antrim saw the Saffrons record their second win in two starts when they beat Kildare by 1-19 to 2-7 in Division 2 of the National Hurling League in Newbridge.

Antrim made heavy weather of it in a low scoring opening half conceding a soft goal in the fourteenth minute when Mark Fitzgerald’s shot for a point went all the way to the net. The Lily Whites, under the management of former Kilkenny captain Andy Comerford added two more points through Tony Murphy and David Harney to put Antrim in a spot of bother.

However with Neill McManus beginning to play a commanding role Antrim began to improve and a pointed free by McManus, plus one each from play by Liam Watson and Shane McNaughton meant they trailed by just one at the break.

With the breeze at their backs in the second-half Antrim showed a marked improvement in their play and four unanswered points from Watson (2), McManus and McNaughton put them three clear. Mark Fitzgerald pulled a point back for the home side but two more points from McManus and McNaughton pulled the Saffrons four clear by the fifty-first minute.

There was a set-back for Antrim when Kildare were awarded a penalty and centre-back Richie Hoban came up to blast it to the net but Antrim hit back within a minute and a great individual goal by man of the match McManus put them firmly back in control.

That score all but ended the Kildare challenge as Watson and McManus added a series of good scores to wrap up a convincing win. Manager Dinny Cahill will be pleased with the win but he will know that the first-half showing will not be good enough next time out against Laois at Casement Park. However if Antrim can maintain their second-half form then that clash with Laois in two weeks time could prove very interesting indeed.

SCORERS - Neill McManus 1-7; Liam Watson 0-7; Shane McNaughton 0-3; Eddie McCloskey 0-1; PJ O'Connell 0-1

ANTRIM - Ryan McGarry, Seamus Shannon, Neilly McGarry, Barry McFall, Arran Graffin, Karl McKeegan, Ciaran Herron, Shane McNaughton, Simon McCrory, Tommy McCann, Neill McManus, Collie McFall, PJ O'Connell, Liam Watson, Eddie McCloskey.

Subs - Martin Scullion for Shannon - Conor McAlister for McCloskey