Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Section A: Antrim 4-10 Cavan 2-14
THE fact that there was no scoreboard at a sun-splashed Woodlands Park yesterday afternoon meant that the vast majority of supporters probably didn’t know just how crucial Bryan Magee’s missed free was in stoppage-time.
The 22-year-old Cavan rookie had already bagged 1-5 but he blotted a fine afternoon by missing the target from close range that would have levelled the game.
As it was, Patrick McBride broke clear in the final attack to give Antrim a deserved two-point victory over the experimental Breffni men which gives them a chance of claiming a semi-final berth should they overcome St Mary’s at the same 4G arena on Wednesday night.
“I’m delighted with the win, first and foremost,” said new Antrim boss Lenny Harbinson afterwards.
“We made eight changes from last Wednesday [against Tyrone] and that was no reflection on those players.
“We took a number of guys off at half-time who had actually played quite well. The purpose was to get other people on the pitch and get them game-time.
“Conor Hamill is just back from injury, Niall Delargy is back and gave close to a man-of-the-match performance. Big Niall McKeever has just come back to us this season…
“It’s all about trying to get players game-time prior to the National Football League. Today we stepped up. There’s a lot of to be happy about but there’s also stuff for us to work on.
“There was good scoring from our perspective but we’re still conceding.”
While it's true Cavan punctured the centre of Antrim’s defence on numerous occasions in the second half, the home side did sufficient damage on the imaginary scoreboard.
Niall Delargy, Patrick Gallagher and young Conor Hamill all played well in the Antrim defence but the eye-catching performances came from those further forward.
The Cavan defence couldn’t handle Conor Murray who notched 2-3 – finding the net in each half – while the movement and confidence in possession of Patrick McBride, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Colum Duffin were glowing features of the home side’s display yesterday.
The Saffrons led 2-6 to 1-6 at the interval and stretched their advantage to six points after 58 minutes [4-7 to 1-10] but centre-back Ciaran Brady almost single-handedly dragged the visitors back into contention in the closing stages with some penetrating runs.
Mattie McGleenan’s men outscored their hosts 1-4 to 0-3 in the final 12 minutes but it just wasn’t enough in the end.
“We have guys coming out of Division Three and Division Two football in Cavan,” said McGleenan, who was missing a host of experienced players.
“The Wharton triplets, for example, have never wore a Cavan jersey in their lives, so for those boys to be playing here is a huge step up and is a huge learning curve for us.
“But we made a lot of fundamental errors out there today.”
Gearoid McKiernan, Killian Clarke, Dara McVeety, Cian Mackey, Martin Reilly and Seanie Johnston were all on the absentee list.
In their absence, Magee looks a decent prospect in attack while fellow forward Niall McKiernan impressed for the second consecutive game and Oisin Kiernan grew into the game and showed moments of quality.
“I’d be very, very pleased with the players we’ve selected this year,” McGleenan added.
“There are eight or 10 guys that were seasoned players last year who have still to come in. But they’ll not be in until the end of the month, so it’s a great opportunity for these guys to learn.
“Bryan Magee, who is 22-years-of-age, hit 1-5 today and is developing with each game.”
As expected, there were a few teething problems but the Antrim management team and players have worked hard on their kick-out strategy over the last two months and when it worked yesterday they attacked with blinding pace.
More importantly, Antrim were adept at getting the right players on the ball in the right areas of the field – and, in fairness, they should have hit more than four goals.
“Behind the scenes, structurally and technically, we’re doing a fair bit of work with the team in conjunction with strength and conditioning, fitness and speed development, so there’s lot of work over the last eight weeks that has been put in place,” said Harbinson. “But there’s a mountain to climb.”
After Magee fisted home from close range on three minutes for Cavan, Antrim dominated the rest of the opening half.
McBride had already notched four frees out of four before he got on the end of a flowing move to ripple the visitors’ net after 21 minutes.
The St John’s man also assisted for Conor Murray’s first major of the day three minutes later to put Antrim 2-5 to 1-3 ahead.
The roving Lamh Dhearg attacker grabbed the last score of the first half too as Antrim went in at the interval 2-6 to 1-6 in front.
Cavan started the second half the brighter of the two sides with Magee (free) and Oisin McKiernan cutting Antrim’s lead to a point before substitute Ryan Murray finished to the net on 50 minutes.
Stephen Beatty made a brave block in his own half of the field before Antrim embarked on another impressive counter-attack.
Michael McCarry broke the ball and the lively Ryan Murray slotted home.
Five minutes later Ryan Murray and Fitzpatrick combined to set up Conor Murray who nonchalantly fired home Antrim’s fourth goal of the day [4-6 to 1-9].
A rare mistake by defensive sweeper Mark Sweeney was punished on 59 minutes as Niall McKiernan’s confident goal finish made it a nervy finish for the home side.
Sweeney, to his credit, made amends with a fine 63rd minute score to keep just enough daylight between themselves and Cavan in the closing minutes.
Cavan will get stronger as January draws to a close while there’s cause for optimism among Antrim ranks after bouncing back from last Wednesday’s heavy defeat to Tyrone.
“It’s nice to have the possibility [of a semi-final berth],” said Harbinson.
“We’ve to play St Mary’s on Wednesday night. We’ve already played them in a friendly and they’re a formidable team and they’ve been together for quite a long time.
“Paddy Tally is doing fantastic work there, so it’s not a foregone conclusion by any means. We’ll give St Mary’s their due. They were able to go up to Cavan last week and were only a few points off them so it’s a good test.”
Asked for his view on the 4G surface the sides had just played on, McGleenan said: “I wouldn’t be a big fan of 3G or 4G. You’re not going to see any of this football in summer-time.
“But, listen, the games have to be played and unfortunately at this time of year this kind of surface is the only one that will take these games.”
Antrim: C Kerr; C Hamill, N Delargy; K O’Boyle, M Sweeney (0-1), P McAleer; S Burke, N McKeever; P McBride (1-5, 0-4 frees), M Fitzpatrick, C Murray (2-3); M McCarry, C Duffin, O Eastwood Subs: S Beatty for S Burke (32, inj), S McVeigh for N McKeever (h/t), R Murray (1-1 free) for C Duffin (h/t), J Laverty for P McAleer (h/t), C Lemon for C Hamill (45), P Brannigan for K O’Boyle (63)
Yellow cards: C Duffin (25), N McKeever (35)
Cavan: R Galligan; J McLoughlin, D McIntrye, D Phillips; D Kennedy, C Brady, D Wharton; S McCormack, D Brady; C Bradley, J Wharton, O Kernan (0-3, 0-1 free); N McKiernan (1-2), A Cole, B Magee (1-5, 0-5 frees) Subs: P Faulkner for J McLoughlin (22 inj), C Brady (0-2) for D Wharton (25), N Clerkin for J Wharton (h/t), D Monahan for S McCormack (h/t), E Flanagan (0-2) for C Bradley (48), J Wharton for A Cole (53)
Yellow cards: D Phillips (25), D Brady (66)
Referee: J Corcoran (Fermanagh)
