Faithful depart and give Antrim a vital edge
A SECOND-HALF surge from Antrim, cards of all colours and plenty of goals.
This Allianz NHL Division 1 relegation play-off had a little bit of everything and the good news is that the teams will do it all over again next month in Round 1 of the Joe McDonagh Cup.
Beating the same team twice is always difficult and that will be Antrim’s challenge on the back of this highly significant win in Navan.
First-half goals from James McNaughton and Keelan Molloy laid the platform for what was a belated first win of the campaign for Darren Gleeson’s side.
But it was only when they took full control in the final half hour or so, reeling off 13 points to Offaly’s mere 1-3, that they sealed the win to remain in Division 1 for 2023.
Offaly, who’d fought back to level terms three times in the opening 45 minutes, were wiped out from there on and must be concerned about their form following a nightmare League.
Losses were always likely for Michael Fennelly’s side following promotion, but they leaked four goals in four of their five group games and another 2-24 here.
It should have been 3-24 though Ciaran Clarke’s late, late goal from a penalty for Antrim was chalked out because he stepped over the line before striking the sliotar.
This was a very good afternoon’s work by Antrim who were without hamstrung attacker Neil McManus, along with Michael Bradley and Niall McKenna.
McNaughton’s fourth-minute goal set them on their way and was a beauty as he soloed through Offaly’s defence before dispatching.
Offaly twice fought back to level terms in the half though Molloy smashed in a second Antrim goal to leave the Ulster men 2-11 to 0-12 up at the break.
Offaly briefly dared to dream when Eoghan Cahill struck the first of two second-half goals, from a penalty, levelling the game.
But they were brushed aside thereafter and failed to capitalise on Niall O’Connor’s 39th minute sin-binning for the foul that led to the penalty.
O’Connor picked up a booking later on so was dismissed though Offaly were already down a man after Joey Keenaghan’s 66th minute red card for two bookings. They finished with 13 as Eimhin Kelly was sin binned late in stoppage time.
Cahill had slammed in a consolation goal for Offaly from a free moments earlier but after leaking those 13 points to Antrim, the game was long since up.
It’s Division 2 hurling again in 2023 for the Faithful.