SH Qualifier: last-gasp Kenny goal breaks Antrim's hearts
June 29, 2014
Antrim's Conor McKinley with Conor Mahon of Offaly.
©INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry.
David Kenny netted his second goal deep into injury time to propel Offaly past Antrim at Ballycastle: 2-19 to 1-20.
The Glensmen led by three points at the break, 0-13 to 0-10, thanks to late scores from PJ O'Connell, Michael Bradley, Neal McAuley and Paul Shiels. The gap could have been greater had not O'Connell and Ciaran Clarke both coughed up decent goal-scoring chances.
Kenny's 41st-minute major threw the Faithful County a lifeline but the northerners roared back and, buoyed by some magnificent goalkeeping from Chrissy O'Connell as well as a 58th-minute PJ O'Connell major, they led by five points after 61 minutes - 1-20 to 1-15.
But the visitors would finish strongly be reeling off 1-4 without reply.
Brian Whelehan's under-fire team kept plugging away and a run of three points left them two adrift going into injury time.
In the second added minute, Offaly were awarded a disputed free and, with a forest of players in the crowded goalmouth, Kenny appeared to get the last touch to a fizzing long delivery from Brian Carroll to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Sean Cleary tagged on the insurance point as the midlanders booked their place in the second round of the hurling Qualifiers and Antrim's campaign ended in agonising fashion.
Offaly - J Dempsey; N Wynne, R Hanniffy, C McDonald; K Brady, G Healion, C Parlon (0-1); C Mahon, S Ryan (0-1); S Dooley (0-2), D Kenny (2-0), C Egan (0-2); B Carroll (0-4, 1-2f, 0-2'65), D Currams (0-2), J Bergin (0-5, 2f). Subs: D Morkan (0-1) for S Ryan, E Nolan for N Wynne, S Cleary (0-1) for S Dooley, K Connolly for G Healion.
Antrim - C O'Connell; O McFadden, C McKinley, A Graffin; S McCrory, N McAuley (0-1), N McManus (0-1f); T McCann (0-1), J McGreevy (0-1); C Carson, P Shiels (0-8, 4f, 2'65), C McCann (0-1); D Hamill, C Clarke (0-3), PJ O'Connell (1-2). Subs: M Bradley (0-1) for S McCrory, S McAfee (0-1) for D Hamill, D McKernan for J McGreevy, N McKenna for N McAuley.
Referee - J McGrath.
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