Many thanks to Colum Thompson for providing us with this report on the very important HL game in Casement Park on Easter Sunday
Offaly condemned Antrim to the Division 1B relegation playoff after a gallant Saffron side succumbed to a late late show from The Faithful County in Casement Park. Antrim played with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half and thanks to Neil Mc Manus, who registered Antrim’s first 7 points they raced into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead. Offaly however then pushed forward and wrestled back the lead 0-7 to 0-6 with Shane Dooley and James Mulrooney registering scores. The game was nip and tuck and with the half back line of Simon Mc Crory, Neil Mc Auley and Paul Shiels in control Antrim responded.
First Shiels fired over a booming strike from his own half, then Mc Crory ran onto a loose ball and converted from 50 yards before Dooley converted a free for Offaly. Neil Mc Manus answered back from a placed ball and Shane Mc Naughton lashed a great shot over the bar to put Antrim 0-11 to 0-8 in front. With half time approaching Offaly knew they needed scores and Shane Dooley, Rory Hannify and Ciaran Slevin duly obliged and at the short whistle the teams were level 0-11 a piece.
First Shiels fired over a booming strike from his own half, then Mc Crory ran onto a loose ball and converted from 50 yards before Dooley converted a free for Offaly. Neil Mc Manus answered back from a placed ball and Shane Mc Naughton lashed a great shot over the bar to put Antrim 0-11 to 0-8 in front. With half time approaching Offaly knew they needed scores and Shane Dooley, Rory Hannify and Ciaran Slevin duly obliged and at the short whistle the teams were level 0-11 a piece.
Many fans expected Offaly to make the wind advantage count in the second half but this is not how proceedings panned out. Two Mc Manus points, one a free and one from play along with a point from half time substitute Stephen Mc Afee had The Saffrons ahead 0-14 to 0-12 after eight minutes of the second half. Offaly again drew the game level thanks to a Dooley free and a point from play from Ciaran Slevin but with Jackson Mc Greevy putting in a huge amount of work in midfield and Conor Carson springing into life at full forward the home side upped the tempo. Carson claimed two fantastic catches and won frees, the second of which looked to be well inside the square - however referee Alan Kelly failed to award the penalty instead giving a 21 yard free. Neil Mc Manus tapped both efforts over the bar under instruction from manager Kevin Ryan. With 15 minutes to go Antrim had stretched their lead to 0-19 to 0-15 and were playing with the air of a team who were capable of getting the 7 point win which would have assured safety in Division 1B.
Things began to unravel for Antrim when Offaly were awarded a number of questionable frees which Ciaran Slevin duely converted as Offaly drew level with 5 minutes to go. The Antrim players, as they had done throughout the entire game, went forward searching for the winning score but Rory Hannify pointed to put Offaly in the lead for the first time in the second half. Again Antrim went looking for scores, Neil Mc Auley dispossessed Colin Egan and he fed Simon Mc Crory who was fouled on his own 40 yard line. As Neil Mc Auley stood over the free referee Alan Kelly, much to the annoyance of the sizable Antrim support, penalised Mc Crory for his reaction and awarded a throw ball. From this passage of play Offaly moved the ball forward into a dangerous position inside the 21 yard line, however Aaron Graffin made what looked like a superb tackle on Shane Dooley but yet again Kelly blew for an Offaly free which Dooley converted to leave the final score Offaly 0-21 Antrim 0-19. Referee Alan Kelly from Galway left the field to a chorus of boos, however the efforts of the Antrim players was rightly recognised as their supporters clapped the brave young Saffron’s from the pitch.
How they played: I’m sure the Antrim players will be gutted with the defeat: they dominated proceedings for long periods and I don’t think Offaly would have had much to complain about had the victory gone Antrim’s way. In a very tough league, Antrim have given some excellent performances which augurs well for the future of this young team. In goals Ryan Mc Garry was solid, in front of him Aaron Graffin, Conor Mc Kinley, Simon Mc Crory and Neil Mc Auley all defended well. Jackson Mc Greevy put in a great effort at midfield and up front Neil Mc Manus was again the scorer in chief with 13 points but my man of the match was Paul Shiels who was superb at wing back. He defended well and his distribution launched several Antrim attacks.
Team: 1. R Mc Garry (Ballycastle) 2. C Mc Kinley (Dunloy) 3. A Graffin (Cushendall) 4. M Mc Fadden (Loughgiel) 5. S Mc Crory (St. Johns) 6. N Mc Auley (Ballycastle) 7. P Shiels (Dunloy) 8. J Mc Greevy (St. Galls) 9. M Donnelly (Ballycastle) 10. S Beattie (Rossa) 11. N Mc Manus (Cushendall, Capt) 12. E Mc Closkey (Loughgiel) 13. D Mc Clean (Gort Na Mona) 14. C Carson (Cushendall) 15. S Mc Naughton (Cushendall)
Subs used: S Mc Afee (Ballycastle) T Mc Closkey (Loughgiel)