Joe McDonagh Cup: Antrim finish campaign on a high with win over Carlow

Joe McDonagh Cup

Antrim 3-26 Carlow 1-15

By Maghnus Dunne at Corrigan Park

Antrim ended their championship campaign on a high note by thrashing Joe McDonagh Cup finalists Carlow, but unfortunately results elsewhere ended their hopes of progressing in the competition.

The hosts got up and running with five early points without reply with Keelan Molloy and James McNaughton both striking.

Paddy Boland had the first chance at a sight on goal, but his effort was stopped by Stephen Rooney after the Antrim cornerback put his body on the line to deny the goal-bound effort.

Antrim found the first major of the contest after a mix-up in the Carlow back line saw Niall Bolger unable to retrieve the sliotar, and the Saffrons forward Joseph McLaughlin pounced on the mistake.

The Cushendall man saw the space in front of him and his run brought him to the net as he drilled an effort low into the ground. Antrim nearly found a second when McNaughton’s effort flashed off the upright.

John Michael Nolan suffered a setback which was a cause for concern as the forward was carted from the field of play, well wishes to the Naomh Eoin forward with a speedy recovery.

Carlow did find some comfort with a rallying of frees from deadball positions as Ruairi Murphy’s sharp shooting kept them within touching distance of their opposition.

Antrim came back hungry again as Gerard Walsh found Keelan Molloy for a second goal, as the Dunloy man hammered his shot beyond Kyle Foley in the Carlow net.

Walsh then attempted to one-up his teammate as he struck a monstrous point from 70-yards to tally the point of the afternoon.

As the half-time whistle blew, 12-points separated the sides, with Antrim relying on a favour from London in their tie with Laois, but business at home had to be taken care of first and foremost.

The Saffrons found a third goal when Ruairi Donaghy made his substitute appearance worthwhile with an instant impact in the second half.

The game was far from the same intensity of the first half but eventually Carlow found some form and Ruairi Murphy’s terrific free-scoring excellence kept them in with a fight.

On the 50^th minute Carlow found the net when Ruairi Murphy managed to catch the ball with space and drill a score into the Antrim net.

The Saffrons finished strongly, scores from Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton and Paul Boyle rounded off a great end to the campaign, with Antrim’s Stephen Rooney wrapping his inter-county career with the final whistle.

Scorers for Antrim: James McNaughton 0-13 (10f), Keelan Molloy 1-5, Joseph McLaughlin 1-1, Ruairi Donaghy 1-0, Paul Boyle 0-3, Ryan McCambridge 0-2, Gerard Walsh 0-1, Scott Walsh 0-1

Scorers for Carlow: Ruairi Murphy 1-8 (8F), John Doyle 0-4, Eric English 0-1, Colm Beck 0-1, Colm Kavanagh 0-1

Antrim: Cormac McFadden; Ruairi McCormick, Niall O’Connor, Stephen Rooney; Oísin Donnelly, Joe Maskey, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Paul Boyle; Conall Bohill, Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton; Jack McCloskey, Conal Cunning, Joseph McLaughlin Subs: Ruairi Donaghy on for Jack McCloskey (11’), Scott Walsh on for Conall Bohill (49’), Rory McCloskey on for Oisin Donnelly (55’), Cormac McKeown on for Paul Boyle (60’), Ben McGarry on for Keelan Molloy (66’)

Carlow: Kyle Foley; Lorcan Doyle, Niall Bolger, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Tadhg O’Neill, Richard Coady, Paidi O’Shea; Eric English, Colm Beck; Jake Nolan, Ted Joyce, John Doyle; Paddy Bolan, John Michael Nolan, Ruairi Murphy. Carlow Subs: Colm Kavanagh on for John Michael Nolan (24), Paddy Bolan off for Conor Carew (40’), Kevin Kavanagh on for Ted Joyce (47’), Jamie Wall on for Paidi O’Shea (58’),

Ref: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)