Fulfil Leinster U20 Hurling Championship, Tier 2, round two

Antrim 2-21 Down 1-13

THE full-time scoreline indicates that this game was a comfortable win for Antrim. That was far from the truth.

Two goals and a Thomas McLaughlin point between them in added time changed the complexion of the scoreboard. But Antrim, without those three late scores, were still going to pick up their second win in the competition and stay on course for the final.

Down had lost the Ulster final – their last competitive game five weeks ago – by 3-25 to 2-10 to Antrim. This time they hit the ground running with a pointed free from Cahal Coleman and then a goal from John Dougan inside the opening 75 seconds.

It gave Down a platform in the game and they were able to stay the pace with the Saffrons. There was just a point between the teams at the break, but Antrim were always two scores ahead for most of the second half with Cahal Coleman frees keeping the Ardsmen in the chase.

Antrim, though, had a little too much guile for them and were value for their third victory this season in this particular head to head. But Down will have been happy enough how things went – apart from the late goals.

Antrim recovered from the poor start with a series of points, including two each from Cadhan Crawford and midfielder Charlie McAuley, and they moved into the lead at 0-6 to 1-2 after 10 minutes.

The rest of the opening half saw Coleman pick off four Down points and the impressive Callagh Mooney (two), Oisín McCallin and Crawford respond with four for Antrim. It was 1-6 to 0-10 at the break.

Mooney picked off his third point on the re-start and over the third quarter Antrim stretched their lead to 0-16 to 1-8 as Down struggled to get any change out of their defence. Crawford and McCallin fired over two scores each and the pair created a goal chance that wasn’t taken in the 49th minute.

Ronan Breen hit a fine score a minute later, Down’s only point from play over the second half. Cahal Coleman brought his tally to 11 points with six frees – but still not enough to put Down in with a chance of winning. They trailed 1-13 to 0-20 as the game went into added time.

Cian Clarke brought off a brilliant save from McCallin in the next attack, but Cadhan Crawford was razor sharp to follow through and bat the sliotar to the unguarded net.

Thomas McLaughlin then took an excellent long-range point before hitting a superb cross-field pass for Oisín McCallin to find the roof of the net.

Antrim’s victory sets them up nicely for the second half of the group games. They now face Kerry followed by Carlow. The pair met on Sunday with the Kingdom enjoying a 1-20 to 1-9 victory.

Antrim S óg McLaren, Cathair Donnelly, L Glackin capt., C McCann, N Magee, C McIlwaine, C McIntosh, C McAuley 0-2, C Mooney 0-5, L McEnhill 0-1, R Fitzgerald 0-1, Conor Donnelly, C Crawford 1-5, O McCallin 1-5 (0-4f), R McGarry 0-1.

Subs T McLaughlin 0-1 and O McCamphill for R Fitzgerald and Conor Donnelly (both 42), J McAlonan for R McGarry (49)

Down C Clarke, P McGarry, B Teggart, L Morgan, M Gilmore, S Pucci, C O’Neill, R Breen 0-1, S McCollum, C Coleman 0-11 (0-10f), F Ferguson 0-1, S McCarthy, C Monan, D Rogers, J Dougan 1-0

Subs D Pucci for C O’Neill (ht), M Dorrian for D Rogers (37), A Teggart for F Ferguson (55)

Referee R McKinstry (Armagh)