Antrim 1-09 Derry 1-10 #TheSaffronGael Reports:

27th January 2019

Allianz National Football League Division 4 (Round 1)

Antrim 1-09 Derry 1-10

Georide McGuckin reports from Corrigan Park

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Antrim's Patrick McBride celebrates after scoring his team's goal.

A late, 69th minute fisted point by wing half forward Padraig Cassidy secured the points for Derry as the Oak Leaf men denied a brave Antrim comeback, to open their league account in the opening round of the National football league at a cold, windswept Corrigan Park on Sunday.

Derry started as firm favourites to take the points and with the impressive Enda Lynn pulling the strings on the offensive Damian McErlain’s men had earned a 0-06 to 0-01 advantage at the end of the opening half during which they had the aid of a strong northerly wind.

Antrim had only managed to give employment to the scoreboard attendant on one occasion during the opening 35 minutes, when Ryan Murray sent a 30 metre free between the posts, but the Saffron’s had missed a couple of openings to make further addition and had offered enough against a very strong breeze to suggest they were well enough equipped to cause upset.

Indeed the home side were quickly out of the start blocks in the second period with a couple of early scores and although they conceded a 40th minute penalty, which was delivered to the back of the net by Shane Mc Guigan, a slick approach saw Patrick McBride find swift reply and with the introduction of Stephen Beatty and Owen Mc Keown adding impetus Lenny Harbinson’s side grew in stature.

Late replacement Mc Keown’s 68th minute point saw the Antrim men draw alongside their visitors and when net minder Padraig Nugent stood tall to deny Enda Lynn from the penalty spot a couple of minutes later the Saffron’s looked value for the point but when Padraig Cassidy proceeded up the right hand side to fist between the posts deep into time added the Derry men had secured the win.

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Derry substitute Michael McEvoy makes a brilliant block to deny Antrim's Owen McKeown in the final seconds of Sunday's game.

The opening round of the National Football League Division 4 saw Derry pay a visit to West Belfast, and although the Oak Leaf men had endured relegation at the end of last term Damien Mc Erlain’s charges had been installed as firm favourites for a quick return to higher berth.

A strong icy blast swept the West Belfast venue as the man in charge signalled the start to proceedings with the home side electing to face the strong wind that blew down into the Whiterock Road end.

Despite the strong breeze, the Saffron’s started in a confident mode playing a defensive possession game, indeed the Oak Leaf men struggled to make inroads in the opening phase.

Antrim looked confident in possession and strong in the tackle but Derry opened account in the 11th minute when Christopher Bradley sent a 30 metre free between the posts and a superb Ciaran McFaul effort yielded another a minute later.

Derry seemed to have taken a firm grip on proceedings when corner forward Bradley helped himself to another score as he split the posts from a placed ball in the 15th minute.

The visitors were now finding their feet after a tentative opening with a 0-03 to 0-00 advantage and although the home side opened their account when Ryan Murray despatched a 30 metre free between the posts that was negated within a couple of minutes as a superb Enda Lynn delivery opened the door for Padraig Cassidy to return in kind at the other end.

Antrim were proving determined in the defensive with Declan Lynch, Niall Delargy, and Ricky Johnston leading by example but it was the last man standing who answered the call in the 20th minute as net minder Padraig Nugent intervened to make a splendid save after a strong Jason Rocks approach opened the way for Padraig Cassidy to strike for goal.

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Shane McGuigan sends Padraig Nugent the wrong way as he fires a penalty to the Antrim net.

Enda Lynn added to the Derry lead with a 25th minute point but the Antrim defence were strong in the last minutes with the visitors restricted to just a single addition when Ciaran Mc Faul sent corner forward Christopher Bradley in for a point from play. The Saffron’s missed a couple of late openings to add to their slender one point tally, but they had done enough to suggest they were far from out of it with the invaluable assistance of the elements to come in the second portion.

As luck would have it the home side were to be denied the use of those elements and by the time the teams returned to the action the first half tempest had faded to a breeze. However the home side started the second period in haste and with back to back points claimed in turn by Patrick Mc Bride and Ryan Murray and the Saffron followers must have felt the game was well within reach.

Indeed Colum Duffin came close to adding another in the 38thminute to add further fuel to the flame of hope, but that flame was about to be doused as the ever dangerous Enda Lynn was hauled to ground on way to the target with goal on his mind and a penalty was the decision, despite the protests of the Antrim defenders who felt Lynn was outside the large square.

Shane Mc Guigan proved unerring from the ‘spot’ with an excellent finish, and Derry were at 1-06 to 0-04 ahead and seemingly back in charge but Antrim were soon to find a way back via Patrick McBride.

Marty Johnston had made crucial intervention in the middle to claim the leather which was quickly passed through the hands of Niall Delargy and Colum Duffin for McBride to drill low past the advancing Thomas Mallon, and the home side were back in contention and about to make a spirited come back.

Patrick Coney increased the Derry lead again with a fine 47thminute point but back came the home side and back to back whites raised in turn by Mc Bride and replacement Beatty saw the deficit reduced to a couple and the Antrim men looked on the upward trail.

A well-directed free kick from Enda Lynn saw Derry earn a three point advantage again and although Antrim responded through Ryan Murray and Patrick McBride, the latter a superb 60 metre delivery, a 68th minute Ciaran Mc Faull reply looked like a match winner with the Oak Leaf side now at 1-09 to 1-07 as the game clock ticked onwards towards conclusion.

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Antrim's Ruairi McCann in action against Derry's Chrisssy McKaigue

The situation looking less than promising and Antrim’s cause looked forlorn but they were not about to cry enough and when Mark Sweeney sent Ryan Murray in to claim a 68thminute point and Stephen Beatty’s delivery opened the way for fellow replacement Owen McKeown to grab another, the home side were abreast of their visitors and a share of the points looked likely.

Derry were not going to settle for the draw though and as they went in search of the winner in time added and they were handed a golden chance when Patrick Coney was fouled inside the square and match referee Paul Faloon once again pointed to the spot. All the Oak Leaf men needed was a tap over point and the points were in the bag, but corner forward Lynn saw his name in lights as he went for goal, only to be denied by Padraig Nugent in the Antrim goal who pulled off a great save.

As it turned out Cassidy was to save Lynn’s blushes when he raced through and fisted over a minute later, and though Owen McKeown had a chance to grab a last gasp equalizer for the home side, the Lamh Dhearg flyer was denied, as a brilliant block by Derry substitute Michael McEvoy ensured his team went home with both points.

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Antrim's Patrick McBride wins the race for possession with Derry's Ciaran McFaul.

Antrim: Padraig Nugent, Eoghan McCabe, Ricky Johnston, Patrick Gallagher, Niall Delargy, Michael McCarry, Declan Lynch, Mark Sweeney, Fintan Burke, Kevin Quinn, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Paddy McBride (1-3, 1f), Colum Duffin, Martin Johnston, Ryan Murray (0-3, 2f).
Subs: Owen McKeown (0-1) for E McCabe (44), Stephen Beatty (0-1) for K Quinn (46), Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon) for M Fitzpatrick (47), Paddy McCormick (0-1) for M Johnston (56), Ruairi McCann (Creggan) for F Burke (62).

Derry: Thomas Mallon, Sean Francis Quinn, Karl McKaigue, Eoghan Concannon, Eamon McGill, Chrissy McKaigue, Jason Rocks, Conor McAtamney (0-1), Ciaran McFaul (0-2), Paddy Coney (0-1), Emmett Bradley, Padraig Cassidy (0-1), Christopher Bradley (0-3f), Shane McGuigan (1-0 pen), Enda Lynn (0-2, 1f).
Subs: Michael McEvoy for J Rocks (44), Jack Doherty for E Bradley (56), Niall Toner for S McGuigan (56), Paul McNeill for SF Quinn (73).

Ref: Paul Faloon (Down).