NFL 3: Cunningham leaves it late for Saffrons
February 07, 2010Sligo 0-14
Two late points from Paddy Cunningham saw Antrim register their first win of the NFL Division Three yesterday at the expense of fellow promotion winners Sligo at Casement Park.
The visitors had enjoyed the better start with three points in the opening six minutes, before Antrim drew level by the 12th minute. From there, both teams swapped score for score, until the Saffrons struck 1-3 without reply.
On the half-hour mark, Tony Scullion snuck by Sligo's rearguard and got himself fouled by goalkeeper Philip Greene. A penalty was awarded and Cunningham coolly converted. Sligo hit back with scores from Johnny Davey and Adrian Marren, but it was the hosts that took in a 1-8 to 0-7 lead at the interval.
Kevin Walsh's team had that deficit down to one within four minutes of the resumption, but failed to back it up and only two points, both from Antrim, would fly over in the next 18 minutes.
Sligo dug deep in the closing stages though to fire over three unanswered points, but it was Cunningham who snatched the victory with two late points as Marren's late score wasn't enough for the Yeats men.
Antrim - S McGreevy; D McCann, P Doherty, K O'Boyle; T Scullion, J Crozier, D O'Hagan (0-1); M McCann (0-3, 1f) , B Herron; C Close (0-1) , T McCann, J Loughery; P Cunningham (1-5, 1 pen, 2f), M Magill (0-1) , N O'Connell. Subs: A Douglas for Doherty (40 mins), C Murray for O'Connell (41 mins), G O'Boyle (0-1) for Magill (51 mins), K Brady for Close (63 mins).
Sligo - P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donavan; N Ewing, M Quinn (0-1), J Davey (0-1) ; E Mullen, T Taylor; A Costello (0-1), M Breheny (0-3, 3f), A Marren (0-7, 4f) ; S Coen, K Sweeney, D Kelly. Subs: S Davey for Mullen (63 mins).
Ref: J McKee (Armagh). Tweet
