Antrim boss Liam Bradley admits he "has a lot of work to do" following his side's listless defeat to Clare in yesterday's final Allianz League Division Four game at Creggan. The Saffrons posted just six scores over the 70 minutes, going down by four points to a Clare side who secured promotion and a place in the divisional final against neighbours tipperary. The defeat means that Antrim finish the 2014 League campaign third from the bottom, with just two wins from seven games. In a dour encounter, Antrim trailed by two at the break, 0-4 to 0-2, having played against a strong breeze in the opening half, but the introduction of Allstar hurler Podge Collins proved pivotal for Clare, whose short-passing game undid the Saffron defence on numerous occasions in the second half.
"The team that wanted to win it, won the game, plain and simple. It just shows where we're at this year," said Bradley.
"At half-time, after playing against a gale force wind, we went in 0-4 to 0-2 behind and we told them they would probably start to play a running game in the second half.
"We backed off too much, didn't push out, we let them get possession. Whenever they got possession, they created overlaps and that's where they got the scores from.
"Going forward we were never a threat. The only threat we really had in the forward line was Michael Pollock, he was superb, but he had no help whatsoever.
"We missed a lot of easy scores and in a tight game, you can't afford to do that. Clare are top of the division and we are third from bottom, that tells you all you need to know."
While Bradley bemoaned his own team's profligacy, Clare amassed 13 wides in the first half alone, while Antrim ended with nine. it took all of 20 minutes for the game to produce a score when martin O'Leary converted a free.
On 32 minutes, Clare were 0-4 to no
score ahead, but points from James Laverty and tomás mcCann put the Saffrons in a good position for the second half. It was Clare who upped their game, however, and driven by Podge Collins, held a 0-8 to 0-3 lead midway through the second half.
A brief period of Antrim dominance produced three unanswered scores from Pollock (two) and CJ mcGourty but when Gary Brennan was dragged to the ground with five minutes left, referee Cathal O'Hagan pointed to the spot.
David tubridy chose to put the spot-kick over the bar, and the same player made sure of the victory moments later with the final score of the game.
"We probably thought we had the game won at half-time but you have to score to win football matches," said Bradley.
"the only pleasing aspect was that we didn't concede any goals but we have a lot of work to do before the Championship.
"i knew that. Antrim football is not in a good place at the minute."
MATCH STATS
Antrim: R Hanna; K O'Boyle, R Johnston,
O Hamill; D Lynch, M Johnston, J Laverty (0-1); N McKeever, S McVeigh; R Murray,
M Sweeney, T McCann (0-1); CJ McGourty (0-1 free), B Neeson (0-1), M Pollock (0-2 frees)
Subs: P Maguire for T McCann, C Murray for B Neeson, T Scullion for O Hamill, R McCann for CJ McGourty, Black card: K O'Boyle replaced by N Delargy, Scullion replaced by M McGarry Clare: P Loughrey; D Ryan, K Hartnett,
M McMahon; S Hickey, G Kelly, C Russell;
G Brennan, C O'Connor; S Collins (0-1),
J Malone, S McGrath (0-3); M O'Leary (0-1 free), D Tubridy (0-3, 0-2 frees), E Coughlan Subs: P Collins (0-2) for J Malone, S Brennan for C O'Connor, P McMahon for E Coughlan Referee: C O'Hagan (Tyrone)