Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC quarter-final: Galway 2-22 Antrim 0-8
SCOREBOARDS are seldom found guilty of perjury. On Saturday at Kingspan Breffni Park, the truth must have deeply hurt the die-hard Antrim hurling fraternity present in Cavan.
The Ulster kingpins played a distinctly poor second fiddle to the 2016 champions and the 20-point margin between the sides at the final whistle was telling. With nine of last year’s All-Ireland winning squad in their ranks, Galway had simply too much skill, power and hurling nous for their outclassed opponents.
The westerners got the start Antrim craved by forging a 0-7 to no-score lead before Diarmaid McShane broke Antrim’s duck in the 12th minute. Galway easily retained the box seat, with their spine particularly merciless in keeping Antrim under the cosh despite the Saffrons employing half-forward Donal McKernan as a sweeper.
Despite the uneven nature of the contest, both sides recorded just two wides apiece in the first-half. Perhaps just as strange was the fact the runaway leaders conjured up just one goal chance in the first-half.
Unfortunately for Antrim, Galway’s strapping full-forward Cian Salmon cashed in on the 28th minute chance that came his way when he beat Conor Carson to the ball and pulled on it with sufficient accuracy and pace to beat goalkeeper Paddy Carlin.
“It was a poor goal to concede,” said Antrim boss Ciaran Kearney.
“But overall, we didn’t hurl to our potential. The lads just didn’t do themselves justice. We played quality opponents in Dublin and Wexford in challenge matches over the last few weeks and hurled a hell of a lot better than that.
“But we don’t get enough competitive games at this level and that’s a massive thing. Having said that, some of our players put in massive performances against Dublin last year, but weren’t the same players today.”
Antrim worked feverishly, but only Conal Doherty-Cunning managed to get on the scoresheet over the course of a second-half which saw them abandon their sweeper tactic in favour of a more positive, orthodox formation.
Galway were spoiled for marksmen and the only surprise was they managed to nab just two goals. Despite the ease of victory, Galway manager Jeffrey Lynskey wasn’t completely happy, saying his side’s “application in the second-half wasn’t up to scratch”, but promised his charges would be a “different animal” in the semi-final.
“It’s unfortunate for them,” Lynskey said of Antrim.
“We had the wind in the first-half, but it died down at half-time. The thing is, though, they’re competing at a level which is probably two levels below this level. We’re a tier-one county and something needs to be done because there’s no point in these sort of games.”
Antrim trailed 0-5 to 1-19 when Galway centre-forward Evan Niland goaled with the minimum of fuss five minutes from the end.
In the weekend’s other quarter-final, beaten Munster finalists Limerick enjoyed a 0-17 to 0-9 win over Leinster counterparts Wexford in Thurles on Sunday.
MATCH STATS
Antrim: P Carlin; E McQuillan, L Gillan, C Carson; S Magill, C Boyd, E Smyth; D Black, K Molloy (0-1); P McCallin, G Og Laverty, D McKernan (0-1 free); D McShane (0-1), C Doherty-Cunning (0-5, 0-4 frees), E O’Neill; Subs: E Laverty for Black (h-t), C Kinsella for Magill (37), C McDonnell for Laverty (53), S O’Connor for McQuillan (53), S Shannon for McKernan (54).
Galway: J Forde; S Molloy, J Fitzpatrick, R O’Neill; I O’Shea, C Fahy (0-1), P Foley; J Coyne (0-5, 0-2 frees), R Malone (0-1); J Canning (0-3), E Niland (1-7, 0-4 frees), L Forde; K Cooney (0-1), C Salmon (1-1), R Murphy (0-1); Subs: E Fahy (0-1) for Murphy (38), C Caulfield for O’Neill (51), M McManus (0-1) for Forde (51), O Connolly for Cooney (54), D Mannion for Niland (56).
Referee: G McGrath (Wexford).
