Joe McDonagh Cup

ANTRIM 2-16 CARLOW 0-19

By David Mohan at Corrigan Park

Antrim claimed a hard-fought three-point victory over familiar foes, Carlow at a sunny Corrigan Park this afternoon to make it two wins from two in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Four red cards, one for the hosts and three for Carlow, was just part of the story of a game that saw 15 minutes of second half injury-time played in a game that epitomised Championship hurling.

Smarting from last year's heavy defeat to the Barrowsiders in the Christy Ring Cup final, it was no surprise Antrim, aided by a stiff breeze in the opening period, came out firing and after Neil McManus hit an early score, Nigel Elliott cut in from the right to hit the opening goal three minutes in.

Antrim were well up for this game and they had raced into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead after 18 minutes with McManus, Joe Maskey, and Eoghan Campbell all finding their range.

Carlow gradually grew into the game with Denis Murphy keeping the board ticking over, while corner forward, James Doyle always a threat and the first turning point in this see-saw battle came on 28 minutes when he was fouled by Campbell, who was red-carded in the process.

The visitors began to exert their influence and looked well placed at the break, trailing by just 1-9 to 0-7 as Murphy and Doyle began to hit scores in reply to McManus and Elliott for Antrim.

A Murphy free trimmed the gap to four early in the second period, but on 38 minutes, Carlow were down to 14 - Jack Kavanagh red-carded for an off-the-ball incident.

Initially, this made little impact as Carlow continued to eat into the Antrim lead with Doyle and Murphy piling on the scores to trail by just two on 53 minutes.

Antrim needed a reply and they got it with Elliott fielding a puck-out, racing in on the right and squaring for McManus to bat home and make it 2-11 to 0-12.

Carlow responded through a Murphy free, but then lost Diarmuid Byrne to a red card on 56 minutes.

Antrim hit two of the next three points before Carlow were then down to 12 with Richard Coady given his marching orders.

A pair of Antrim points from Eddie McCloskey and Conor Johnston appeared to have settled the argument as they led by seven, but the board for added time, showing 11 minutes appeared to galvanise Carlow who hit five in-a-row to leave it a tense finish, but Antrim managed to rise themselves for one last push and a Johnston free in the 15th minute of added time sealed their win.

Scorers for Antrim: Neil McManus 1-8 (7fs), Nigel Elliott 1-2, Conor Johnston 0-2 (1f), Joe Maskey 0-1, Eoghan Campbell 0-1, Michael Armstrong 0-1, Eddie McCloskey 0-1.

Scorers for Carlow: Denis Murphy 0-11 (8fs), James Doyle 0-2, John Michael Nolan 0-2, Chris Nolan 0-2, Conor Foley 0-2.

ANTRIM: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, John Dillon, Conor McKinley; Joe Maskey, Paddy Burke, Ryan McCambridge; Eoghan Campbell, Simon McCrory; Nigel Elliott, Conor Johnston, Neil McManus; Donal McKinley, Michael Armstrong, Conor McCann.

Subs: James McNaughton for Donal McKinley (47), Eddie McCloskey for Conor McCann (59), David Kearney for Joe Maskey (61), Conor Carson for Neil McManus (67), Neal McAuley for Ryan McCambridge (70+8).

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Alan Corcoran, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; Richard Coady, David English, Diarmuid Byrne; Jack Kavanagh, Kevin McDonald; John Michael Nolan, Paul Coady, Edward Byrne; James Doyle, Denis Murphy, Ross Smithers.

Subs: Chris Nolan for Ross Smithers (46), Dion Wall for Michael Doyle (62), Jack Murphy for Edward Byrne (67), Conor Foley for Paul Coady (70+3).

REFEREE: John O'Brien (Laois).