Anrim forward Dominic McEnhill. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Tailteann Cup Group Three
Antrim 1-22 (1-4-14) London 1-14 (1-2-10)
By David Mohan at Páirc Esler
Antrim produced a strong finish to book a spot in next week's Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals as their eight-point win over London in Newry was enough to claim one of the third-place spots.
It was a close-run affair for three quarters, but a black card for London's Matt Moynahan was a prelude to a run of 1-4 without reply which was crucial in terms of opening a gap and ensuring they remained ahead of the curve with Leitrim beating Tipperary in Group One meaning it came down to scoring difference to see which of those teams advanced.
Therefore, it was a day where both teams were not just seeking victory, but by as much as possible with scoring difference in play, yet with a strong wind that seemed to favour The Exiles, but swirled throughout, it was not easy on the shooters as both passed up early opportunities.
Antrim did get off the mark with Ryan McQuillan kicking points off either foot, but London grew into it as Daniel Clarke pointed and after a great save by Antrim goalkeeper Mick Byrne, from Ciarán Diver, the ball came back to Joshua Obahor to level.
Diver edged his side into the lead before Conal Gallagher slung over the first two-pointer of the game, while Byrne was again called into action to save from Ruairi Rafferty with the subsequent 45 nailed by Sean Taylor.
McQuillan replied, but Liam Gallagher sent over another two for London who were now five up before Antrim began to make some inroads with points from Conor Stewart and Paddy McBride.
Diver and Shay Rafter restroed the five-point gap, but after Stewart pulled one back, Antrim really ought to have had a goal in added time when London goalkeeper Andrew Walsh seemed to flp at the ball, but twice Ryan Murray was denied the opportunity to turn home with London escpaing with a 0-10 to 0-6 advantage at the break.
It was level within minutes of the restart with McBride and Dominic McEnhill landing two-pointers with the wind at their backs.
It remained tight with a Conor Hand two briefly giving Antrim the lead for the first time before Obahor levelled it again.
The sides remained level going into the final quarter when Antrim struck for home as points from Ada Loughran and Ryan Murray were followed by a Byrne 45, which came after McEnhill's 56th-minute penalty was saved with Matt Moynahan also sin-binned in the process.
By the time he returned, the game was beyond his team as Antrim had gone nine clear with substitute Niall Burns finding the net despite the best efforts of Sean Taylor, who couldn't keep it out.
Shay Rafter thumped to the net from a free in added time, which saw eyes divert to the score in Mullingar, but late points from Marc Jordan and Dominic McEnhill were enough to see Antrim home and into the knockout phase.
Scorers for Antrim: D McEnhill 0-6 (2xtp, 2f), N Burns 1-1, R McQuillan 0-4, P McBride 0-3 (1xtp), C Stewart 0-2, C Hand 0-2 (1xtp), A Loughran 0-1, R Murray 0-1, M Byrne 0-1 (1x45), M Jordan 0-1
Scorers for London: S Rafter 1-2 (1-1f), C Diver 0-3, C Gallagher 0-2 (1xtp), L Gallagher 0-2 (1x2p), J Obahor 0-2, D Clarke 0-1, S Taylor 0-1 (1x45), C McCarrick 0-1
Antrim: Michael Byrne; Eoghan McCabe, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; James McAuley, Dermot McAleese, Marc Jordan; Conor Hand, Conor Stewart; Ronan Boyle, Adam Loughran, Patrick McBride; Ryan McQuillan, Ryan Murray, Dominic McEnhill.
Subs: Niall Burns for A Loughran (52), John Morgan for J McAuley (70+1), James McDonnell for R Boyle (70+1).
London: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Sean Taylor, Matt Moynahan; Eoin Walsh, Conal Gallagher, Kristian Healy; Tighe Barry, Liam Gallagher; Joshua Obahor, Daniel Clarke, Ciaran Diver; Ruairi Rafferty, Nathan McElwaine, Shay Rafter.
Subs: Ciarán McCarrick for N McElwaine (25), Conor O'Donoghue for D Clarke (58), Michael Carroll for R Rafferty (61), Conor McKelvey for C Gallagher (63), Oran Hilley for K Healy (68).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).
