Antrim fight back to earn draw

ANTRIM staged a terrific comeback to claim a share of the spoils at a wind-swept Glenavy yesterday, but the Saffrons were left to rue a late chance to defeat Carlow.

Despite being six points down early in the first half, the hosts finished much the better side with Colm Duffin’s injury-time free, which would have sealed both points, sailing inches wide of the posts.

Antrim probably would have settled for a draw after 12 minutes as Carlow raced into a 1-3 to no score lead.

Sean Gannon palmed home the game’s only goal on five minutes following a pass from O’Brien.

Wing-backs Jordan Morrissey and Ross Dunphy added further points either side of a Paul Broderick effort.

Paddy Cunningham opened Antrim’s account on 13 minutes from a free and the hosts struggled to create chances from open play in the first half.

Indeed, Conor Murray’s point in first-half stoppage time was their first from play with the game becoming heated in the closing minutes of the half as well with a number of skirmishes breaking out as Carlow took a 1-4 to 0-4 advantage into the break.

Again, Antrim were slow to get going after the break and had to wait until Cunningham’s free on 50 minutes to land their fifth point with Morrissey and Darragh

Foley hitting the target for Carlow.

With 20 minutes remaining, Antrim boss Lenny Harbinson introduced Odhran Eastwood and Michael McCann into the fray and both had a telling impact on proceedings.

Eastwood played a delightful pass to midfielder Duffin and the Moneyglass clubman fired over to make it a three-point game.

Another brace of fouls on Murray were converted brilliantly by Eastwood, who judged the strong cross-field breeze to perfection.

A fine point from Carlow substitute Colm Hulton briefly halted Antrim’s momentum, but a bit of guile and experience from McCann allowed Declan Lynch to take the pass on the overlap and the Saffrons skipper split the posts with a stunning point with the outside of the boot.

Broderick (free) and Murray exchanged points before a foul on Eastwood was converted by the St Enda’s attacker himself to draw the sides level at 0-11 to 1-8 and neither side managed to find a winner late on.

A defeat would have been harsh on either team, but it leaves both Antrim and Carlow with even less margin for error in the final three rounds of the league.

Antrim scorers: P Cunningham 0-3 (0-3fs), O Eastwood 0-3 (0-3fs), C Murray 0-2, D Lynch, P McBride (0-1f), C Duffin 0-1 each. Carlow scorers: S Gannon 1-0, P Broderick 0-3 (0-2fs), J Morrissey 0-2, R Dunphy, D Foley, C Hulton 0-1 each.

So close: Colm Duffin missed a late chance yesterday

Scorers: Derry: S McGuigan 1-7 (0-4 fs), N Loughlin 1-0, B Heron 0-2, S Downey 0-1. Louth: R Burns 0-6 (0-5fs), D Byrne 1-2, B Duffy 0-1.