Gleeson lauds charges for upping ante to seal final date with Kerry

THERE was no slip-up from Antrim as they booked a Joe McDonagh Cup final date with Kerry on December 13 following this emphatic victory at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday.

The visitors already had one foot in the decider prior to the throw-in, though a heavy defeat allied with a victory for nearest challengers Carlow could have potentially scuppered their prospects.

“You could see it in the early part of the game, there was a nervousness in the boys because you’re there going, ‘Let’s not have a catastrophe’, let’s not have a 2020, whatever you want to call it and drop a 27-point position,” Antrim manager Darren Gleeson said.

“Lads are thinking about tables, lads are thinking about that and until we got to the water break and just said, ‘Lads, will you just take off the shackles and go for it’, and they did. They hit a purple patch and I don’t know what they knocked up before and after half-time but it was impressive stuff.”

Meath were seeking a first ever win in the competition and received an early boost with a long-range goal from James Kelly. They held a fourpoint advantage after 24 minutes, but a goal from Niall McKenna a minute later proved a turning point. Antrim then outscored Meath six points to one in the remainder of the half to lead 1-13 to 1-9 at the break.

Three points in as many minutes at the start of the second half increased that advantage. A goal against the run of play from Stephen Morris gave Meath a glimmer of hope but that was their only score in the third quarter.

The imperious Michael Bradley took his tally of points to eight, all from play, in that one-sided second half while talisman Ciaran Clarke amassed 12 points, including 10 from frees.

Damien Healy blasted a close-range free to the net for a consolation goal for Meath in added time.

SCORERS – Antrim: C Clarke 0-12 (10f); M Bradley 0-8; N McKenna, D McCloskey 1-0; C McCann, J McNaughton, N McKeague 0-2; R McGarry, E Campbell, D Nugent, D McMullan 0-1 each. Meath: J Kelly 1-1; S Morris, D Healy 1-0 each; P O’Hanrahan (1f, 1 ’65), A Douglas 0-2 each; D McGowan, J Walsh, K Keoghan, D Kelly (f), P Potterton 0-1 each.

ANTRIM – C McAllister 7; P Duffin 7, M Donnelly 7, S Rooney 7; G Walsh 7, P Burke 8, R McGarry 7; E Campbell 7, A O’Brien 8; N McKenna 7, J McNaughton 7, M Bradley 9; D McCloskey 7, C McCann 7, C Clarke 9. Subs: D McMullan 7 for Walsh, D Nugent 7 for McCann (both 45), N McKeague 7 for McKenna (50), E O’Neill 6 for McCloskey (60), C Johnston 6 for McGarry (63).

MEATH – C Ennis 7; S Geraghty 6, S Brennan 7, M Burke 6; S Whitty 6, D Kelly 7, B McGowan 6; P Potterton 7, P O’Hanrahan 6; J Kelly 7, S Morris 7, A Douglas 7; K Keoghan 6, D McGowan 6, J Walsh 6. Subs: P Conneely 6 for Geraghty (28), D Healy 6 for Walsh (47), J McGowan 6 for Morris (51), N Potterton 6 for Keoghan, E O Donnchadha 6 for O’Hanrahan (both 63).

REF – D Hughes (Kilkenny).