Antrim Masters Victory over London

Antrim Masters lined out against London Masters @2pm on a sunny afternoon in St Paul’s GAC Belfast. The new stand, 4G training facility and club house facilities were remarked on by the London lads as something to be proud off. Both teams had lost their opening game and in the respective warm ups it could be seen that each wanted their first win in 2018. 

Antrim started quickly when Sean Og Maginness rifled to the roof of the net in the third minute after a slick movement up the pitch. London were unphased by this and with a big midfield took charge for the next 15 minutes scoring 4 fine points. London could have been further ahead but for a outstretched save by Sean McGreevy on his right hand post and strong defense marshalled by Lawrence higgins in full back. 

The antrim coaching team of Brian White and Ronan Hamill brought John Barr and Paul McErlain to bolster the middle third of the pitch. This allowed the antrim midfield of Gerard Doherty and Stephen Mulvenna to gain dominance and badly needed possession to feed the running full forwards Kevin Madden and new recruit kevin brady. They scored the next 6 points to leave it 1-6 to 0- 5 at half time. 

The second half started where the first half left off with Antrim still on top around the middle third. Aidan Donnelly was a constant thorn in the London masters side as he weaved and bobbed to score, feed and get frees. Kevin Madden scored 2 more points to bring his tally to 7 and put some badly needed daylight between the teams. London to their credit never give up and fought for every ball leaving Antrim with some tired bodies. When Charlie McLarnon rattled to the net with 10 minutes left the game was all but over. 

London rallied again and scored a 6 yard box scramble goal and a further 2 points to ensure the Antrim men had to make use of the rolling subs and the full squad of 27 players to secure the win. 

Final score Antrim 2-13 to London 1-7. 

Brian White’s men move on to the next match against Cavan on the 9th June 2018 

Antrim scores : sean og mcguinness (1-0), charlie mclarnon (1-0), kevin madden (0-7) aidan donnelly (0-2), collie mallon (0-1), frankie wilson (0-1), gary hughes (0-1), kevin brady (0-1)