Antrim take narrow victory
POOR CONDITIONS HAMPER SLIGO’S CHANCES IN CORRIGAN PARK AS ANTRIM CLING ON FOR A ONE POINT VICTORY IN THE ALLIANZ DIVISION 3 LEAGUE
ANTRIM SLIGO 0- 11 1- 7 HAVING travelled to Semple Stadium and taken the scalp of last year’s All- Ireland semi- finalists Tipperary, the Yeats County went to Corrigan Park still undefeated in the Allianz Division 3 League on Sunday.
Their counterparts were on the back of two defeats at the hands of Tipperary and Offaly respectively so Sligo were looking to come away with the points.
This was a game Niall Carew’s side would be hoping for a win, having previously drawn with Armagh in their opening League encounter, yet it was never going to be plain sailing travelling to take on the Saffrons in Corrigan Park.
With five minutes remaining, it was all tied between the sides, following a converted free from Adrian Marren, after substitute Charlie Harrison was fouled further out the field.
It was Antrim’s CJ McGourty who was to prove the match winner with a converted free near the end.
Sligo took a two- point advantage into the break thanks to the game’s only goal from Niall Murphy, but Antrim suffocated their attack after the restart, limiting them to two points.
It was McGourty who was a thorn in the side of the Yeats men throughout the afternoon as Antrim picked up their first points of the campaign and condemned Sligo to their first defeat.
In a dogged battle, Antrim came from four points down to seal victory with a superb, long- range free from the boot of man of the match CJ McGourty.
He scored what proved to be the winning point with two minutes of normal time remaining when he fired over a stunning free from 45 yards out to sink Sligo’s hearts.
A stiff cross- field breeze made conditions difficult, but Sligo settled quicker and led with Mark Breheny and Adrian Marren sharing free- taking duties.
Antrim were all square after 12 minutes, but Sligo were soon back in front when Niall Murphy fired home the goal, taking advantage of a mistake by Antrim full- back Paddy Gallagher.
Kyle Cawley should really have added Sligo’s second goal, but chose to take a point after great work by Kevin McDonnell, before two McGourty frees left Sligo 1- 5 to 0- 6 ahead at half- time.
Within 15 minutes of the restart the sides were level and with five to go it was still deadlock, 1- 7 to 0- 10.
There was still time for further drama as Antrim were reduced to 14 men when Ryan Murray picked up his second yellow card for a cynical foul on Sligo’s Eoin McHugh while the otherwise outstanding Paddy McBride was shown black card in injury- time.
Mark Breheny had a chance to salvage a point for the visitors late on, but his effort tailed to the left and wide as Antrim hung on to pick up their first points of the campaign
Sligo led 0- 3 to 0- 2 when Patrick Gallagher’s error allowed Niall Murphy through to score what prove to be the game’s only goal.
The Saffrons responded well and were only two down at the break with McGourty’s frees keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
McBride hit a stunning point early in the second half before setting up McGourty for two quick- fire points from play.
The second point could have been a goal but for a remarkable save from Aidan Devaney who redirected McGourty’s fisted effort over the crossbar.
Substitute Charlie Harrison won a fairly dubious free which Adrian Marren converted to tie the game with five minutes remaining.
A foul on the industrious Conor Murray afforded McGourty the opportunity to restore Antrim’s slender lead and the St Gall’s clubman made no mistake on 68 minutes.
Antrim’s tackling in the closing minutes left a lot to be desired with Ryan Murray and McBride being dismissed but the two points was all that mattered for the home side as Breheny’s last- gasp effort missed the target. Scorers: Antrim: CJ McGourty 0- 8 ( 0- 6fs), P McBride, C Murray, R Murray 0- 1 each.
Sligo: N Murphy 1- 1 ( 0- 1f), A Marren 0- 3 ( 0- 2fs), M Breheny 0- 2 ( 0- 1f), K Cawley 0- 1.
ANTRIM: C Kerr; C Hamill, P Gallagher, P McAleer ; P McBride, R McCann, P Healy; J Dowling, S Beatty; C Murray, R Murray, D Lynch; CJ McGourty, C Small, M Fitzpatrick. Subs: S Donnelly for R McCann ( 29), S McGarry for C Small ( 64), B Bradley for P McBride ( BC) ( 72)
SLIGO: A Devaney; R Donovan, K McDonnell, N Gaughan; E McHugh, N Ewing, B Egan; P O’Connor, A McIntyre; C Davey, M Breheny, J Kelly; K Cawley, A Marren, N Murphy. Subs: C Harrison for C Davey ( 53), S Gilmartin for P O’Connor ( 53), S Coen for K Cawley ( 60)
Ref - N Mooney ( Cavan). Allianz Division 3 Results Sunday Antrim 0- 11 1- 07 Sligo Longford 3- 09 3- 11 Armagh Offaly 0- 14 2- 13 Louth
Saturday Laois 1- 10 1- 16 Tipperary Following the weekend’s League action, Sligo are now in fourth place on the table with three points. Louth, who are on the back of three wins from three, are top with six, followed by Tipperary on four points. Armagh, who defeated Longford, also have three points but are ahead of Sligo with a better points difference.