Tailteann Cup: Antrim defeat Carlow after epic extra-time battle
Ronan Boyle of Antrim scored two goals in their Tailteann Cup Round 1 victory over Carlow. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Tailteann Cup Round 1
ANTRIM 6-17 CARLOW 2-26 (aet)
By Kieran Murphy at Netwatch Cullen Park
A 92nd minute goal from Benen Kelly gave Antrim a first round Tailteann Cup win over the home side in a hugely intriguing encounter at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
Carlow were slow and ponderous in the opening half and Antrim took full advantage. Ronan Boyle scored two in the second quarter and the full-forward line of Pat Shivers, Niall Burns and Dominic McEnhill accounted for the rest of their scorers in the half as the visitors led 2-10 to 0-7 at the interval.
When Ryan McQuillan scored an early second half point and Eoghan Campbell goaled, it looked as if Antrim were going to cruise to victory.
Somehow, Carlow found a way and hit back with Lee Walker, Ross Dunphy and Conor Crowley all scoring at least two points each in that third quarter. Padhraig Bolger scored a goal from close range for the home side on 43 minutes and shortly afterwards Walker converted a penalty after he drew the foul inside the big square.
It was nerve-wracking and now it was Carlow’s turn to reach out for victory. Adam McCarron converted a two point free to bring matters level after Antrim had been found guilty of a breach offence. Clarke found the posts to push Carlow into the lead but at the death, Joseph Finnegan slotted the equaliser to bring the sides into extra time tied at 4-16 to 2-22.
There was a moment of drama and high tension when it looked as if Carlow were going to be awarded a free in front of the posts but instead the referee, Conor Dourneen, hopped the ball with both sides having been guilty of a breach offence as players vied for possession.
Antrim drew first blood when McQuillan netted. It was the only score in the first half of extra time but the excitement reached fever pitch in the second period as both sides dug deep in pursuit of victory.
With penalties looming Carlow registered a simple wide and from the kick-out, Antrim found a hole in their opponents defence and Kelly was on hand to force the ball over the line and seal victory for the away side.
Scorers for Antrim: P Shivers 1-5 (1-2p 1f), R Boyle 2-0, R McQuillan 1-3, D McEnhill 0-4 (1-2p f), B Kelly 1-0, E McCabe 1-0, N Burns 0-3, J Finnegan 0-1, T McCann 0-1 (f).
Scorers for Carlow: L Walker 1-4 (1-0 pen, 3fs), C Crowley 0-6, P Bolger 1-1, R Dunphy 0-3, A McCarron 0-3 (1-2pf), J Clarke 0-2, C Blake 0-2, K Nolan 0-2 (1-2p), J Phiri, P McDonnell, L Gavin (f) 0-1 each
ANTRIM: John McNabb; John Morgan, Joseph Finnegan, Kavan Keenan; Eoghan McCabe, Peter Healy, Marc Jordan; Paddy McAleer, Eunan Walsh; Tiernan McCormack, Ryan McQuillan, Ronan Boyle; Pat Shivers, Niall Burns, Dominic McEnhill. Subs: Tom Shivers for McCormack (49), Tomas McCann for McEnhill (57), Benen Kelly for Keenan (59), Adam Loughran for Boyle (59), Conor Hand for Jordan (65), Jordan for Finnegan (76), Cathal Hynds for McAleer (84).
CARLOW: Ben McCarron; Kyle Nolan, Niall Roche, Lee Moore; John Phiri, Dara Curran, Padhraig Bolger; Mark Furey, Adam Burgess; Paddy McDonnell, Lee Walker, Conor Doyle; Jamie Clarke, Chris Blake, Ross Dunphy. Subs: Conor Crowley for Furey (41), Adam McCarron for Blake (62), Aaron Amond for Nolan (53), Tadgh Roche for Burgess (69), Darragh Foley for Walker (69), Shane Buggy for Moore (78), Liam Gavin for Clarke (85), Cormac Lomax for Furey (89).
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).
