Christy Ring Cup: Saffrons prevail thanks to improved second-half display
May 21, 2016
Antrim's Conor Carson is challenged by Roscommon's Cathal Dolan during the Ring Cup game in Dunloy
Croke Park beckons for the Antrim hurlers as they edged out Ulster rivals Down in a high scoring Christy Ring Cup semi-final at Loughgiel today.
The scoreboard read Antrim 1-24, Down 0-23 at the end of an entertaining seventy minutes after the Saffrons overturned a six point half-time deficit.
Whatever was said in the Antrim dressing room during the half-time interval had the desired effect as they outscored the visitors by 1-17 to 0-10 in the second period.
Captain Conor Carson set the comeback in motion with a goal via a free shortly after the resumption.
The sides were level at 1-20 to 0-23 with two minutes of normal time remaining but Antrim finished strongest with four points without reply.
They now await the winners of tomorrow's semi-final between Kildare and Meath at headquarters on Saturday, June 4th.
Meanwhile, Derry lost out to Wicklow by 0-15 to 2-23 in the relegation play-off at Pairc Esler.
Antrim - C O'Connell; O McFadden, T McCloskey, C McKinley; S McCrory, N McAuley, M Burke; E Campbell (0-1), Ciaran Johnston; E McCloskey (0-1), J Dillon (0-1), N Elliott; Conor Johnston (0-1), C Carson (1-1), Ciaran Clarke (0-16, 12f, 1'65). Subs: N McKenna (0-3) for N Elliott, J Connolly for J Dillon, S McAfee for Conor Johnston.
Down - S Keith; M Conlan, P Flynn, J McManus; C O'Neill, C Taggart (0-3), J McGrath; S Ennis, F Conway; C Mageean, C O'Prey (0-3, 2f, 1'65), D Hughes (0-3); D Toner (0-9, 5f), C Woods (0-4), S Nicholson. Subs: C Egan (0-1) for P Flynn, B Byers for S Nicholson, J Doran for F Conway, O McManus for C Taggart.
Referee - D Hughes.
**
Wicklow - D O'Neill; L Maloney, S Kelly, C O Dulachain; P Keane, J Henderson, M O'Brien; R Keddy, E Kearns; P Doran (0-1), T Storey (0-1), D Staunton (1-3); M Lee (0-2), D Masterson (0-4), C Moorehouse (1-11, 0-8f). Subs: A Byrne (0-1) for P Doran, E McCormack for T Storey.
Derry - D McDermott; D McCloskey, C Quinn, S McCullagh; B Quigley, C McSorley, B Og McGilligan; A Grant (0-1), T McCloskey; M McGuigan (0-3), J O'Dwyer (0-1), R Convery (0-7, 6f); G O'Kane, S Farren, O McCloskey (0-1). Subs: M McGrath (0-1) for G O'Kane, D Foley (0-1) for J O'Dwyer.
Referee - J O'Brien.
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