Massive win for hurlers in Belfast

A TONIC start for the Kingdom to their 2019 league campaign.

At a stroke it puts them in a commanding position to make a league final. They could still miss out of course, there’s a long way to go yet, but after last Saturday afternoon their fate is firmly in their own hands.

Kerry started the game with Antrim superbly and it stood to them come full-time, as the Kingdom raced into a ten point lead in the early stages of the match.

Antrim looked in dire straights at that point, as the hosts had a player sent off, when wing-forward Nicky McKeague was dismissed in the eighth minute, after an altercation with Mikey Boyle.

Kerry began the game very well, registering 1-1 in quick succession to race into a four point lead, with Jordan Conway opening the scoring with a neat effort.

Jack Goulding then got the game’s opening goal, after a short puck out from the Antrim goalkeeper went wrong and Goulding took full advantage, with the Ballyduff player finishing to the net for the game’s opening goal.

James McNaughton settled Antrim with a free, but Padraig Boyle responded for Kerry with a long range point.

Antrim were then dealt a major blow when McKeague was shown a straight red card and Kerry took full advantage, registering the next five points in succession to give themselves a nine point lead.

Shane Conway’s free midway through the half gave his side a ten point cushion but Antrim were handed a lifeline, when a long ball in from Sean Duffin was not dealt with adequately by the Kerry goalkeeper Eoin O’Neill tapped in from close range to reduce the gap to seven points.

Kerry held a 1-12 to 1-6 lead the interval and would have certainly been favourites to progress at half time, as Antrim had been reduced to fourteen players. Antrim had a fantastic start to the second half though, which included an unbelievable goal from Eoin O’Neill, which followed two points from McNaughton.

O’Neill caught the ball after an excellent pass from Ciaran Clarke and bet the goalkeeper with a great finish to reduce the deficit to a single point.

Kerry responded magnificently with two points to hold a three point advantage and a routine free from Shane Conway gave his side a 1-18 to 2-10 lead heading into the latter stages of the match.

The gap was at four points when Antrim were reduced to thirteen men in the 65th minute, when Keelan Molloy was shown a second yellow card and Kerry looked to be heading for victory in their opening game after this juncture.

Antrim were not beaten yet though and two points from James O’Connell and McNaughton clawed the gap back to two points, before Shane Conway settled Kerry with a short range free.

Antrim were awarded a close range free in the final play of the game, after Connor Laverty was fouled and James McNaughton stepped up to take it, fully aware that a goal would have levelled procedures.

McNaughton’s initial effort was saved, however, referee Seán Stack ordered a retake and the second effort was deflected over the bar by Kerry goalkeeper Martin Stackpoole, as his side held on for a priceless victory.