Gaelic Games

Frenetic finish sees Antrim strike late to beat Wexford

Golas from Niall McKenna and Sean Elliott plus late points from Gerard Walsh and Conal Cunning get the Saffrons over the line at home

Antrim's Keelan Molloy celebrates his side scoring a goal against Wexford. Photograph: Leah Scoles/Inpho
Antrim's Keelan Molloy celebrates his side scoring a goal against Wexford. Photograph: Leah Scoles/Inpho
Sat Apr 27 2024 - 17:57
Leinster SHC: Antrim 2-22 Wexford 2-20

A storming finish saw Antrim grab a magnificent 2-22 to 2-20 victory over Wexford at Corrigan Park on Saturday to get their Leinster Hurling Championship campaign firmly back on track.

Darren Gleeson’s Saffrons had to come through adversity at times with a couple of big calls going against them. Despite being seven points in arrears early in the second half, they still refused to wilt as goals from Niall McKenna and Sean Elliott saw them level before Gerard Walsh and Conal Cunning scored the winning points.

The lead see-sawed for most of the opening half as the excellent Lee Chin pointed early for Wexford and Antrim replied through James McNaughton and Gerard Walsh.

This would set the tone as the lead changed seven times as Antrim led 0-8 to 0-7 when a huge moment arrived on 27 minutes as a Chin free came back off the post and referee Colm Lyons spotted a pull on Conor McDonald, awarding Wexford a penalty to the fury of the hosts. Chin buried the chance.

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Antrim responded well to get to within one in stoppage time, but they were hit by a second goal and there was no debate about this one as Chin plucked Mark Fanning’s long delivery from the sky, burst in and beat Ryan Elliott to help his team into a 2-9 to 0-12 lead at the break.

Wexford stretched that lead to seven early in the second period but Antrim fought back with the next five points.

Wexford hit back with two of their own before Antrim through they had grabbed a vital goal on 55 minutes only to see it ruled out for a square ball.

But they continued to graft and five minutes later they were right back in it as McNaughton made a superb run, played inside to McKenna who finished to level.

Although Cian Byrne hit his fourth of the day and Conor McDonald his second straight after, Antrim were in front seven minutes from time as Aodhán O’Brien broke the ball to McNaughton who again turned provider, this time for Sean Elliott to bury.

Chin took his tally for the day to 2-11 from a free to tie it up, but Antrim weren’t to be denied as Gerard Walsh landed a sideline that was worthy of a winner and Cunning made sure of it as Antrim prevailed.

ANTRIM: R Elliott; N O’Connor, R McGarry, P Burke; G Walsh (0-4, one free), C Boyd (0-1), C Bohill; E Campbell, S Elliott (1-3); N Elliott (0-1), K Molloy (0-2), J McNaughton (0-3, two frees); C Cunning (0-7, seven frees), N McKenna (1-1), C McCann.

Subs: A O’Brien for C McCann (31 mins), C McKeown for N Elliott (47), M Bradley for N McKenna (70+3).

WEXFORD: M Fanning; S Reck, C Foley, N Murphy; S Donohoe, D Reck, M O’Hanlon; C Hearne, K Foley; L Óg McGovern (0-1), L Chin (2-11, seven frees, one penalty), C Dunbar (0-1); C Byrne (0-4), C McDonald (0-2), R O’Connor (0-1).

Subs: E Ryan for N Murphy (53 mins), R Lawlor for C Dunbar (57), S Casey for C Hearne (59)

Referee: C Lyons (Cork)