Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final

Antrim 1-19 Carlow 1-15

By David Mohan at Corrigan Park

Antrim advanced into the semi-finals of the Tailteann Cup as they fended off the challenge of Carlow at Corrigan Park.

Dominic McEnhill top-scored with 11 points for Andy McEntee's side that saw county hurler Gerard Walsh introduced in the second half to confirm his dual status.

The Saffrons grew into the game after a slow start to take over and while Carlow kept in touch, the hosts always seemed to be able to find an answer to get over the line.

Carlow were much brighter in the opening stages with Ross Dunphy kicking them into a second minute lead, but gradually the hosts settled, pressing the visitors high up the field and this pressure began to pay of as they forced turnovers and won frees.

They did lose Dermott McAleese and Conor Stewart to injures in the opening quarter, but these losses didn't seem to make a dent as Dominic McEnhill levelled from a free and then kicked another three on the spin before goalkeeper Mick Byrne got in on the act with one of his own.

Darragh Foley ended a barren 19 minutes for Carlow from a free and then added another from play immediately after, but Antrim were certainly on top with Cathal Hynds getting their first from play and Patrick McCormick with another.

Antrim led by three after 32 minutes when came a big moment as Patrick McBride's shot for a point dropped short and Aghagallon's Ruairi McCann got the faintest of touches to the net.

There were further goal chances as McEnhill was thwarted by Johnny Furey and Marc Jordan with an effort hacked clear, but the Saffrons were 1-8 to 0-5 to the good at the half.

The visitors began the second period brightly with Foley kicking an early free, but Antrim always had an answer for what was thrown at them as they managed to manage the lead with Peter Healy, Marc Jordan and Creggan's Ruairi McCann assisting McEnhill who was keeping the board ticking.

Carlow refused to budge either with Dunphy in fine form, while Foley and Conor Crowley kept them in touch.

They were right back in the game on 59 minutes as Mikey Bambrick finished past substitute goalkeeper Luke Mulholland to reduce the arrears to four and Mulholland then hacked off her line from Crowley, but they were unable to maintain the pressure as Antrim steadied with scores from Patrick Finnegan and McEnhill helping push the gap to six with the game heading towards stoppage time.

Both sides saw players back-carded within minutes of each other - Antrim's Eoghan McCabe and Carlow's Jamie Clarke - while Antrim then had another in Ronan Boyle.

Three points in a row froM Foley left just a goal in it, but Antrim would see it out as McEnhill fisted over to seal the win and a place in the last four.

Scorers for Antrim: D McEnhill 0-11 (7fs), R McCann (Aghagallon) 1-0, M Byrne 0-2 (1f, 1 45), P McCormick 0-1, P Healy 0-1, M Jordan 0-1, P Finnegan 0-1, C Hynds 0-1, R McCann (Creggan) 0-1.

Scorers for Carlow: D Foley 0-8 (6fs), R Dunphy 0-4, M Bambrick 1-0, C Crowley 0-2, N Hickey 0-1.

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Patrick McCormick, Peter Healy, Eoghan McCabe; Dermot McAleese, Declan Lynch, Ronan Boyle; Conor Stewart, Cathal Hynds; Marc Jordan, Adam Loughran, Ruairí McCann (Creggan); Patrick McBride, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), Dominic McEnhill.

Subs: Joe Finnegan for D McAleese (head injury, 8), Eunan Quinn for C Stewart (17), Gerard Walsh for P Healy (48), Conhuir Johnston for A Loughran (56), Luke Mulholland for M Byrne (59), Patrick Finnegan for R McCann (Creggan, 63).

Carlow: Johnny Furey; Shane Buggy, Mikey Bambrick, Mark Furey; Niall Hickey, Seanie Bambrick, Jamie Clarke; Conor Doyle, Jordan Morrissey; Conor Crowley, Josh Moore, Ross Dunphy; Colm Hulton, Darragh Foley, Aaron Amond.

Subs: Jonah Dunne for S Buggy (45), Eric Molloy for C Hulton (52), Dara Curran for N Hickey (70), Finbarr Kavanagh for C Doyle (70).

Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).