ROYALS WIN AGAIN BUT BOSS SLAMS GAA
MEATH manager Martin Ennis begged the GAA to show the Christy Ring Cup some respect at the end of a ‘bizarre’ three weeks for the competition. Steven Clynch’s 93rdminute winning point from a free sealed a maiden title success for Meath on Saturday and brought to a close a remarkable episode in hurling history. Meath initially lifted the cup on June 4 only to be told days later the game ended in a draw and that a replay was required. They were underdogs to win at the second attempt and fell eight down at halftime but were the better side from there on. Their reward is a place in next season’s MacCarthy Cup although Ennis called for significant change to the Ring competition. The GAA had wished to play the replay in Newry before relenting and agreeing to return to Croke Park, drawing a crowd of just 2,938. ‘To be thrown up to Newry to hide the embarrassment of what went on wasn’t acceptable to me and I’m sure it wasn’t going to be acceptable to Antrim,’ said Ennis. ‘Every player who has worked at Christy Ring level and trained since last November deserves a shot on Leinster final day in front of a big crowd instead of trying to shove the game into some corner of the country just to get it out of the way.’ Just like the drawn game, Meath started poorly and were 2-8 to 0-6 down at half-time as Antrim found the net through Ciaran Clarke and Conor Johnston. But the Royals dominated the second half and it took a 75th-minute Conor Carson goal just to get Antrim to extra-time. Veteran Clynch was named to start for Meath but came on as a sub and scored 1-3 in total. He took over free-taking duties from Toher in extratime and his 93rd-minute point was the winner. MEATH: S McCann; S Geraghty, R Sherlock, D Donoghue; S Brennan (S Clynch h/t), K Keoghan, S Whitty; S Heavey (S Quigley 46), S Morris; J Keena (M O’Grady 73, J Keena 83), D Healy, A Gannon; G McGowan, J Toher, N Heffernan (K Keena 65). Scorers: J Toher 0-12 (0-11f), N Heffernan 2-0, S Clynch 1-3 (0-2f), G McGowan 1-0, A Gannon, S Quigley 0-2, S Morris, J Keena 0-1. ANTRIM: E Gillan; P Burke, T McCloskey (J Connolly 57), S McCrory; O McFadden, N McAuley, F Donnelly; E Campbell, E McCloskey; N McKenna (C Carson 70), C Johnston (N McKenna h/t e/t), S McAfee; N Elliott (PJ O’Connell 40, J Dillon 92), B McCarry (D McKernan 50), C Clarke. Scorers: N McKenna, C Clarke (0-2f, 0-1 65) 1-5, C Johnston 1-2, C Carson, J Connolly 1-0, D McKernan 02, N Elliott, E Campbell, S McAfee 0-1. Referee: C McAllister (Cork).