Defeat For Waterford In Last On-Off-On National League Game

 

It was on, then it was off and then it was back on again. Waterford’s last game in this year’s National Football League finished in a seven point lost at the Geraldines G.A.A. Grounds in Dundalk today as Antrim ran out 2-14 to 0-13 winners.

Waterford will genuinely have welcomed Antrim’s gesture of playing this game south of the border as it will have given Benji Whelan and his charges the opportunity to play in a competitive game ahead of next weekend’s Munster championship game against Limerick at Fraher Field.

Had this game not gone ahead, Waterford may well have got the chance of playing a challenge game tomorrow (Sunday) or even on Bank Holiday Monday to get any rustiness out of their system ahead of next Saturday’s big game with Limerick, but while the side will be disappointed with the final outcome in this game, they will not need any telling that there is nothing to beat a competitive game, even if for Waterford going into this game there was nothing to play for in terms of promotion.

Waterford were first to score in this game through Stephen Curry in the fourth minute, but Antrim proved to be slightly the better of the two sides in what was an even enough 35 minutes of football.

Points from Patrick McBride and Patrick Cunningham followed for Antrim before Odhrán Eastwood palmed to the net from a James McAuley effort that came crashing off the crossbar.

Cunningham pointed again for the Glensmen before Tony Grey and Conor Murray pointed for Waterford by the twelfth minute leaving Eastwood’s goal separating the sides.

Eastwood pointed on 22 minutes for Antrim after which Patrick Cunningham followed up with a brace of scores opening up a six point lead for Antrim by the 28 minutes. Waterford however would hit the next three scores from Michael and Stephen Curry hitting one each followed by Tony Grey’s second of the game on 33 minutes.

Dermot McAleese and Patrick Cunningham pointed for Antrim but just before the break Fergal Ó Cuirrín split the posts as Waterford trailed 1-8 to 0-7 at the break.

Waterford began the second half brightly as Jack Mullaney, Conor Murray and Jason Curry hit scores to leave just one between the sides with 13 minutes of the second half played.

Jason Curry pointed again moments later but points from Mick and Tomás McCann either side of the Rathgormack’s score kept Antrim in front.

The old adage that goals win games is often true and in this game it certainly proved true. Antrim hit the second of their goals on 55 minutes through centre back James McAuley, a score that killed off Waterford’s chances of recording a win ahead of this weekend’s Munster Championship game.

Mick McCann and Jack Mullaney swapped scores before Tony Grey and Patrick McBride did likewise. Antrim finished the slightly stronger of the two sides as Mick and Tomás McCann hit late scores.

ANTRIM: Oisin Kerr; Patrick Gallagher, Declan Lynch, Kevin O’Boyle; Dermot McAleese, James  McAuley, Niall Delargy; Colum Duffin, Marc Jordan; Kevin Quinn, Paddy Healy, Mark Sweeney; Patrick Cunningham, Odhrán Eastwood, Patrick McBride.

Subs: Mick McCann for Marc Jordan (29), Tomás McCann for Patrick Cunningham (50), Ruairi McCann for Mark Sweeney (54), Ryan Murray for Colum Duffin (65).

Scorers: Patrick Cunningham 0-5 (2f), Odhrán Eastwood 1-1, James McAuley 1-0, Tomas McCann 0-3 (2f), Patrick McBride, Mick McCann 0-2 each, Dermot McAleese 0-1.

WATERFORD: Aaron Beresford; Sean O’Donovan, Brian Looby, Aaron Jones; Robbie Flynn, Michael Curry, Tony Grey; Shane Ahearne, Jason Curry; Conor Murray, Darragh Corcoran, Brian Lynch; Fergal Ó Cuirrín, David Hallinan, Stephen Curry.

Subs: Dylan Guiry for David Hallinan (ht), Jack Mullaney for Shane Ahearne (ht), William Hahessy for Aaron Jones (ht), Dermot Ryan for R Flynn (55).

Scorers: Stephen Curry 0-4, Tony Grey 0-3, Conor Murray, Jack Mullaney 0-2 each, Michael Curry, Fergal Ó Cuirrín 0-1 each.

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)