Antrim promotion hopes dashed by Westmeath defeat
17th February 2019
Allianz National Hurling League Division 2A
Antrim 1-15-1-17 Westmeath
Report by The Saffron Gael
Antrim’s hopes of promotion out of Division 2A of the Allianz National Hurling League were ended this afternoon as rivals Westmeath left Corrigan Park with a hard earned 1-17-1-15 win.
Leading by two-points after 25 minutes of the first-half, largely thanks to the accuracy of James McNaughton from the placed ball – Antrim appeared to by in a strong position after facing the strong breeze, but they lost their way in the final minutes of the half and found themselves six behind at the break as Alan Devine found the net for the visitors and added a free in the aftermath.
Nicky McKeague hand passes the ball away as team selector Jim Close looks on during Sunday’s Allianz NHL Div 2A game at Corrigan Park. Pic by John McIlwaine
The Saffrons showed the power of recovery after the break and hit the net through Keelan Molloy with scores from McNaughton and Kevin Rice dragging them level and once again they appeared to be in a strong position. Crucially however they couldn’t get their noses in front in the second period and three scores from Dermot McNicholas helped a resiliant Westmeath to victory, which could prove all so vital at the end of their league campaign.
Both sides were off target in the opening minutes at a blustery Corrigan Park with two wides apiece before the opening score arrived.
It was Antrim who hit the front courtesy of a James McNaughton free, making atoning for a miss two minutes previous.
Westmeath almost responded with an instant goal after Robbie Greville shook off the attention of Phelim Duffin and watched as his shot flashes inches wide of Ryan Elliott’s goal.
Alan Devine drew Westmeath level from a converted free and his side edged ahead through Aonghus Clarke’s score on 8 minutes.
Westmeath goalkeeper Paddy Carroll had to be alert to bat away Nigel Elliott’s hanging ball two minutes previous to James McNaughton levelling the game at 0-02-0-02 with his second converted free of the afternoon.
James McNaughton breaks through a Westmeath tackle during Sunday’s Allianz NHL Div 2A game at Corrigan Park. Pic by John McIlwaine
Just before the midway point in the half McNaughton made it three successive frees on the bounce from a difficult angle to the right hand side and a minute later stretched his sides lead with a fourth placed ball of the afternoon to make it 0-04-0-02.
A converted Alan Devine narrowed the margin – but McNaughton restored his sides two-point advantage from a free after Conor McCann had nipped into steal a short sideline ball and was fouled.
Devine (free) and Nigel Elliott would trade further scores – but it was the visitors who ended the half on the front foot.
Shane Clavin landed a score from midfield and a superb sideline cut from Derek McNicholas levelled the scores for a third time at 0-06-0-06.
Alan Devine edged Westmeath ahead with a free just before the half hour mark and the corner-forward was in the right place at the right time on the 34th minute as he batted Robbie Greville’s high ball to the net past Ryan Elliott to make it 1-07-0-06.
McNicholas and Devine would add further scores before the half was out as the visitors eight-point swing in the final ten minutes saw them lead 1-09-0-06 at the interval.
James McNaughton replied with his sixth converted free at the beginning of the second-half and four minutes after the restart Nigel Elliott flicked the ball into the path of Keelan Molloy who rifled to the corner past Paddy Carroll to make it a two-point game, 1-09-1-07.
McNaughton provided a further score from the placed ball and the game was level at 1-09 apiece after 42 minutes – Kevin Rice landing the leveller from a super angled shot.
Antrim captain Conor McCann in action against Westmeath full-back Tommy Doyle during Sunday’s National Hurling League Division 2A defeat at Corrigan Park, Belfast. Pic by John McIlwaine
Westmeath restored their lead thanks to a second converted sideline cut of the afternoon by Dermot McNicholas.
Killian Doyle doubled his sides lead after some neat work from Alan Devine and first-half substitute Niall Mitchell shot over on the turn to make it 1-12-1-09 after 46 minutes.
James McNaughton (free) responded and the sides then traded scores through Shane Clavin and Neil McManus – after the Ruairi Og native was introduced from the bench.
The next four scores were again equally split – Paul Greville and Dermot McNicholas (free) gave Westmeath a three-point lead on two occasions, only for James McNaughton to twice respond from frees to leave it 1-15-1-13 with eight minutes remaining.
Killian Doyle converted a free to make it a three point game once more but Antrim finally made inroads as Conor McCann pointed on the turn and a minute into four added on; James McNaughton converted his tenth free of the afternoon to make it a one-point game (1-16-1-15).
Antrim needed an injury-time break but a fantastic McNicholas free from range would give Westmeath that extra breathing space.
James McNaughton thought he had closed the gap again with a close-range free, but confusion reigned at Corrigan Park and after consulting with both umpires; the officials came to the decision that McNaughton’s free had sailed wide and the visitors saw time out to register a decisive 1-17-1-15 victory on the Whiterock Road.
Antrim will travel to Mayo next weekend and host London in the final game of the league – but with their promotion chances virtually nil; the best the Saffrons can hope for is some momentum ahead of the start of the Joe McDonagh Cup series in May.
Kellean Molloy makes a break early in the second half.
Antrim's Conor McHugh dives in to try and block a shot by Westmeath's Killian Doyle.
Antrim: R Elliott, S Rooney, J Dillon, P Duffin, M Donnelly, S McCrory, C McHugh, C McCann (0-01), N McKeague, N Elliott (0-01), J McNaughton (0-11f), K Rice (0-01), E O’Neill, K Molloy (1-00), C Clarke. Subs: J O’Connell for K Rice (48 mins), Neil McManus (0-01) for C Clarke (48 mins), E Campbell for P Duffin (50 mins), D McKiney for N McKeague (52 mins).
Westmeath: P Carroll, D Everton, T Doyle, G Greville, A Craig, A Clarke (0-01), P Greville (0-01), C Boyle, S Clavin (0-02), R Greville, K Doyle (0-02, 0-01f), J Boyle, A Devine (1-05, 0-04f), D McNicholas (0-05, 0-02f), D Clinton. Subs: N Mitchell (0-01) for D Clinton (31 mins), S Power for C Boyle (52 mins), C Doyle for A Devine (55 mins), S McGovern for S Clavin (74 mins).
Referee: Patrick Murphy
