Football

Final quarter surge gives Antrim the points in London

Ryan Murray contributed eight points in Antrim's win over London Picture by Declan Roughan
Ryan Murray contributed eight points in Antrim's win over London Picture by Declan Roughan Ryan Murray contributed eight points in Antrim's win over London Picture by Declan Roughan

Allianz Football League Division Four: London 0-13 Antrim 0-17

ANTRIM are three wins away from securing an immediate return to Division Three after a dominant final quarter in Ruislip yesterday.

Having squandered a host of chances to put 13-man Wicklow away in their last outing, this time the Saffrons got enough scores on the board late on to see off a dogged London side.

The game remained in the balance for 50 minutes but then Antrim upped a gear, scoring five unanswered points in a 20-minute spell to set up a crunch clash with promotion rivals Laois next Sunday.

“We have Laois, Carlow and Limerick [remaining], three very difficult games but we’ve put ourselves in a position where our destiny is in our own control,” said Antrim boss Lenny Harbinson.

“The next few weeks are going to be interesting.”

Harbinson cut a frustrated figure during a stop-start first half at McGovern Park, where the bad habits of the Wicklow game continued as decent scoring chances were squandered.

But his half-time teamtalk did the trick as Antrim took a firm grip after the restart.

The only gripe was the final score, which didn’t do justice to the visitors’ second-half dominance.

“We just didn’t kick on the way I would have liked in the last 15 minutes. We had opportunities to take a few more scores,” said Harbinson.

“Whenever there’s only a kick of a ball between the teams, you’re conscious of a stupid mistake, a misplaced ball. London already proved against Limerick that they can score a goal in the last minute.”

London were full value for their 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes, the Exiles happy to soak up Antrim pressure and hit them on the counter, while at the other end CJ McGourty’s placed-ball problems continued as he missed two frees inside scoring range.

The St Gall’s clubman compounded his struggles with a low percentage shot wide that had Harbinson and his management team bellowing from the touchline.

McGourty, who redeemed himself in the second half, handed over free-taking duties to Paddy McBride and Ryan Murray after his second miss and they kept Antrim in contention as the fussy officiating of Leitrim referee Eamon O’Grady presented them with scoring opportunities from placed-balls.

Antrim grew as the half progressed, the excellent Murray a constant threat, and although a late point from former Monaghan U21 forward Fearghal McMahon gave London a 0-8 to 0-7 interval lead, the visitors were in a decent position given the strength of the wind.

After an even third quarter when the teams traded points, Antrim then upped the ante as McGourty dropped deep and began dictating proceedings, and Murray began to score at will.

A tiring London found themselves boxed inside their own half as their former captain Sean McVeigh entered the fray, and when Murray kicked his eighth point with five minutes remaining, they needed another Hail Mary play similar to what they produced at the death against Limerick.

London did cut Antrim’s lead to three points deep into injury-time but there would be no late heroics this time as McGourty ensured a return to winning ways with his third score of the game.

“We knew we faced a mammoth task coming here,” said Harbinson. “Ciaran Deely has got London very well organised, their results have shown they’re on an upward curve.

“As you saw in the first half, conditions were difficult with a swirling breeze.

“We kept ourselves in the game and then in the second half we played some more intelligent football with the breeze.”

Antrim: C Kerr; P Healy, P Gallagher, N Delargy; K O’Boyle, M Sweeney, J Laverty (0-1); S Burke, P McAleer (0-1); M Fitzpatrick, C Murray, P McBride (0-3, 0-2 frees); CJ McGourty (0-3, 0-2 frees), C Duffin (0-1), R Murray (0-8, 0-2 frees)

Subs: K Healy for Sweeney (h-t), R Johnston for Burke (51), P Branagan for Healy (53), R McCann for Gallagher (58), S McVeigh for Laverty (64), S Beatty for Duffin (69)

Yellow cards: P McBride (52)

London: G McEvoy; Colin Dunne, M Mangan, C O’Neill; M Walsh, R Jones (0-1), A Moyles (0-3, 0--2 frees); A McDermott, J Moran; E Murray, L Gavaghan (0-3, 0-2 free), S McManus; R Elliott (0-1), M Gottsche (0-2 free), F McMahon (0-2).

Subs: C Doran (0-1) for Murray (51), Ciaran Dunne for McManus (54), G Byrne for Mangan (60), J Daly for Elliott (60), M Carroll for Moyles (64)

Yellow cards: M Mangan (19), R Jones (31), M Walsh (40), Colin Dunne (67)

Referee: E O’Grady (Leitrim)