Allianz Hurling League Division 2A final: Antrim 2-12 Carlow 0-15
IN the muck and gutters of Pairc Esler, where hurls got smashed and blood was spilled as fearless foes clashed, Antrim dug their heels in and clawed their way back up to Division 1B.
The county hasn’t had much to sing about in recent seasons but the Glensmen were serenaded with a few bars of ‘The Green Glens of Antrim’ from their faithful supporters as they hobbled off the pitch after giving everything to see off determined Carlow in a competitive, at times ferocious, Division 2A final.
First-half goals from Eoghan Campbell and Neil McManus (a penalty), had the northerners 2-5 to 0-7 ahead at the end of a first half that saw five yellow cards dished out.
Carlow closed the gap to a point with 10 minutes to go, but Antrim, inspired by nerveless free-taking of McManus and the Trojan work of Matthew Donnelly, Conor McKinley and Niall McKenna among many others, produced a stirring finish to win the title.
And in the Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A final Donegal hurlers were celebrating after claiming the spoils with a 4-25 to 1-12 top-of-the-table clash against Tyrone, Davin Flynn the hero for Donegal, scoring 2-9 from play.
Antrim: C O’Connell; S Rooney, J Dillon, C McKinley; S McCrory, M Donnelly, P Burke (0-1); E Campbell (1-0), P Shiels; N McManus (1-4, 0-1 pen, 0-3 frees), C McCann, C Johnston (0-1); N McKenna (0-1), N McAuley, D Murphy (0-4 frees)
Subs: O McFadden for McAuley (49), C Clarke (0-1) for Murphy (57), J McNaughton for Campbell (69)
Yellow cards: McKinley (13), Campbell (21), Dillon (31), Shiels (35)
Carlow: J Carroll; A Corcoran, P Doyle, G Bennett; D Byrne, D English, R Coady; J Kavanagh, S Whelan; JM Nolan (0-1), M Kavanagh (0-3, 0-1 65), E Byrne (0-1); C Nolan, P Coady (0-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), S Murphy (0-1)
Subs: J Doyle for Whelan (35), K McDonald (0-1) for C Nolan (44), R Kelly for English (52), D Murphy for S Murphy (57), J Murphy (0-1) for J Kavanagh (60)
Blood subs: K McDonald for S Murphy (40), S Murphy for K McDonald (42), S Kavanagh for Byrne (70)
Yellow card: J Kavanagh (23)
Referee: M Murtagh (Westmeath)
Allianz National Football League Division 4
Leitrim 1-13 Waterford 2-8
Allianz National Hurling League Division 2B Final
Meath 4-24 Wicklow 2-15
Allianz National Hurling League Division 2B Relegation Play-off
Mayo 1-16 Roscommon 0-17
Allianz National Hurling League Division 2B Relegation Play-off
Laois 1-30 Kerry 4-20 (AET)
