BBC SPORT | N Ireland | White steps down at Antrim

Antrim 1-10 0-14 Westmeath

Brian White has stepped down as Antrim boss following his side's one-ponit defeat at the hands of Westmeath on Saturday.

White re-signed stating personal reasons for his decision.

He said that Antrim has gone as far as it could in the competition.

In all honesty they could have won an exciting All-Ireland Qualifying tie at Casement Park on Saturday.

Downfall

They let Westmeath off the hook after they had taken the lead at the start of the second period.

However, a failure to trouble the scorers for 22 minutes in that second half was their downfall.

Antrim were behind by a single point at the break, and it was the same at the end despite the heroics of Kevin Madden.

Madden picked up six points, mostly from frees, and was unlucky near the end not to help initiate a last-ditch goal to give his side victory.

Antrim were slow to get into their stride as the visitors started with a bang.

However, coming up to the break, Antrim began top find their feet with Madden knocking over his third point to keep Westmeath in check.

It was Westmeath's Dessie Dolan who was causing all sorts of problems for Antrim.

Antrim's Kevin Madden scored six points
Kevin Madden makes strides against Westmeath
He was in fine form throughout and his early points gave Westmeath the advantage.

But with Westmeath looking sharp, Antrim took the lead with a goal from Kevin Brady after some reticence in the defence.

Dolan, though helped Westmeath ahead again with his third point and another free from JP Casey took them further ahead.

But the best moment of the first half was a magnificent point-blank save by Antrim goalkeeper Sean McGreevy as he blocked a certain goal by that man Dolan.

Madden got Antrim off on the right footing on the resumption and an Eamon McCann point gave them the lead.

After Westmeath had equalised again, it was Dolan who stretched out his side's advantage with three unanswered points.

Madden kept pegging back the leeway, but in the end Westmeath held out.

Monaghan 1-8 2-11 Louth

Monaghan came back from a disastrous start to give Louth a run for their money at Clones.

However, Mattie Kerrigan's men fought against the odds in playing a catch-up game, but failed in the end to overtake Louth.

Louth were out of the traps right from the whistle and were dominant for long periods of the game.

Helped by an early goal by David Reilly, Louth stormed to a 1-5 to 0-1 lead in the 28th minute as Monaghan failed to get a sweat up.

But then Kerrigan's boys woke from their slumber and stopped the Louth scoring sequence machine.

They then proceeded to put the Louth defence under prerssure and a goal by Tom Freeman saw them go in at the break on level terms.

But three points by Reilly, JP O'Neill and Mark Sandford gave Louth the advantage again.

But back came Monaghan with Damien and Tom Freeman scoring points.

However, Louth stole away again and this time held out to win by six points.

All-Ireland Qualifiers:
Waterford 3-11 3-19 Roscommon (Result)
Antrim 1-10 0-14 Westmeath (Result)
Monaghan 1-8 2-11 Louth (Result)
Carlow 0-9 0-18 Laois (Result)
Wicklow 2-22 2-6 London (Result)
Longford 1-16 0-14 Down (Result)
Limerick 1-16 2-12 Cavan (Result, Aet)
Wexford 0-10 1-9 Tyrone (Result)


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