Allianz Hurling League Division 1B, round three
Offaly 2-26 Antrim 0-17
DAVY Fitzgerald knew he had a job on his hands when he took on Antrim and he admitted he was at a loss to explain his side’s capitulation in Tullamore against an impressive Offaly outfit.
When Seaan Elliott whipped over his second point in a couple of minutes there were only two in it and Antrim, playing against the wind, would have taken that with half-time approaching.
But that was as good as it got for the Glensmen. Brian Duignan finished with a dozen points and Killian Sampson and Dan Ravenhill got goals in either half as the brittle confidence that seems to undermine Antrim away from home surfaced again.
Fitzgerald’s men were out-hustled and run ragged in the second half.
“If you look at Westmeath last week, we were good in the tackle,” said frustrated Fitzgerald, bemoaning his side’s inconsistency.
“Offaly hammered us in the tackle today and we’ve got to figure that out.
“They can bring all the Davy Fitz’s or whoever else is there, it doesn’t matter until we make sure that we’re consistent over a period of time.
“So, we have to get consistent. I can’t figure out why they shouldn’t be because they work extremely hard. I don’t know… I’m just baffled but we’ll try and get to the bottom of it and sort it.”
They’re still talking about the 1989 All-Ireland semi-final down here. Antrim’s shock win that day obviously upset the Faithful County supporters but this one-sided victory should have exorcised any remaining ghosts.
Offaly manager picked out the first half purple patch (1-5 on-the-spin) as the crucial passage of the game.
“There was a bit of a breeze there and the goal that Dan Ravenhill got gave us that bit of breathing space we needed coming up to half-time,” said Offaly manager Johnny Kelly.
“I think the display in the second half was equally as impressive, we pushed on against the breeze and got some really good scores.”
Kelly expects Fitzgerald to have turned Antrim into a different animal by Championship time. On this evidence, it may take longer than that.
“Antrim are a good team, they’re definitely going to get their act together,” said the Offaly boss.
“They’re a really strong team and I’d be wrong to say that will be anywhere reflective of what will happen later on in the Championship. Obviously, Davy is a quality manager, and he’s going to go back and assess where they’re at, and he’ll come strong again.”
Kelly’s men had a significant wind at their backs in the first half but the Glensmen started well and, after Conor Johnston’s industry forced a sideline ball, Paul Boyle played in Keelan Molloy for the opener after a minute.
At the other end, Charlie Mitchell’s shot was blocked by Ryan Elliott and Duigan levelled with the 65. When they had space and time, Antrim used the ball well. Declan McCloskey picked out James McNaughton with a long pass and Boyle flicked the sliothar back to Niall O’Connor who split the posts
Killian Sampson levelled from distance and after a Duigan shot had been smothered by Ryan Elliott – Offaly’s second goal chance in the first eight minutes – Dan Ravenhill edged the home side ahead from the right wing.
Turnovers were killing Antrim. Nigel Elliot was the fourth man in a saffron jersey to lose possession as they ran the ball into the wind.
Charlie Mitchell made it 4-2 but James McNaughton replied with free after Joe Maskey – back in the side after missing last season – was shoved in the back as he competed for the puck-out.
A Duignan free cancelled it out and then Killian Sampson got his second before McNaughton’s brilliant catch and finish kept Antrim in touch.
Scores from Duigan and Daniel Bourke followed as the Glensmen struggled to hold onto the ball they worked so hard to win.
McNaughton did manage a free but, after Maskey had become the second Antrim player booked for a high tackle on Duigan, Dan Ravenhill left four between the sides (0-9 to 0-5).
Antrim desperately needed someone to stand up and Seaan Eliott replied with two points (the first a shot for goal tipped over the bar) in as many minutes to halve the deficit and Molloy almost left one in it after a brilliant team move that began with goalkeeper Elliott.
That was as close as Antrim would get.
Duigan’s free ended Antrim’s brief rally and, after Niall O’Connor had run into traffic, James Mahon’s ball found Dan Ravenhill who whipped a low finish into the visitors’ net.
A Killian Sampson point followed that and suddenly it was double-scores (1-11 to 0-7).
Instead of keeping possession and seeing out the half, Antrim played like time was running out by blazing the sliothar hopefully into opposition territory. Offaly raced on ahead and Charlie Mitchell and Duigan (0-2) added three more to leave it 1-14 to 0-7 at the interval.
Antrim needed a good start to the second half and, after Maskey and Seaan Elliott broke through the Offaly defence, Boyle could have produced it. His shot was blocked by Mark Troy but McNaughton cracked over the 65.
Normal service resumed as Ross Ravenhill and Oisin Kelly replied for the Faithful county and a pair of Duigan frees left it 1-18 to 0-8 after seven second-half minutes.
A McNaughton free (either side of two misses) pulled one back but Antrim couldn’t get a handle on the Offaly puck-out and, after Mitchell’s point, Elliott had to save instinctively from Oisin Kelly to keep their slim chances alive.
Antrim pushed up on the puck-outs but they were chasing shadows as Killian Sampson raced through for his fourth point and two more from Duigan left it 1-22 to 0-9 with still 54 minutes left and Antrim looking increasingly ragged.
Pride was on the line and they did try to salvage some. Scott Walsh, Molloy and McNaughton took the next three scores but again Offaly hit back ruthlessly as Killian Sampson’s half-hit shot found its way into the back of the Antrim net.
To their credit, Antrim at least managed the last four points of the game.
They took the bad look off the scoreboard – at least a little - but this was a harsh lesson for Davy Fitz and his boys.
Offaly M Troy; P Cantwell, C Burke, J Mahon; R Ravenhill (1-1), D Shirley, J Sampson; C Spain, C King; O Kelly (0-1), D Bourke (0-1), K Sampson (0-3); D Ravenhill (1-2, 0-1 free), C Mitchell (0-4), B Duignan (0-12, 0-9 frees, 0-1 65)
Subs S Burke (0-1) for Cantwell (17), D Nally for K Sampson (60), D King for J Sampson (61), L Watkins for Spain (64), DJ McLaughlin for Shirley (68)
Yellow card Burke (37)
Antrim R Elliott; G Walsh, P Burke, D McCloskey; S Walsh (0-1), E Campbell, J Maskey (0-1); N Elliot, N O’Connor (0-1); P Boyle, N McKenna, K Molloy (0-3); S Elliott (0-2), J McNaughton (0-9, 0-7 frees, 0-1 65), C Johnston
Subs E McFerran for Walsh (13), R McCambridge for McKenna (HT), E O’Neill for Boyle (47), C McKeown for Johnston (61)
Yellow cards McKenna (11), Maskey (25), McCloskey (37), N Elliot (50)
Referee S Hynes (Galway)
