 Sambo McNaughton will not have been happy with Antrim's display |
Antrim's hopes of winning promotion from Division 2 of the Allianz NHL suffered a setback as they were held to a draw by lowly Westmeath at Casement. The understrength Saffrons were minus more than a dozen squad members but it was still a disappointing display. Antrim led 0-4 to 0-2 early on but Westmeath fought back to lead 0-10 to 0-8 at the break. The Saffrons appeared to have regrouped when they moved 0-14 to 0-11 ahead but Westmeath battled back to grab a draw. Michael Herron's point in injury-time appeared to have earned the Saffrons a fortunate victory but Brendan Murtagh struck the equaliser in the third minute of added time. Weekend varsity commitments was the main reason for the absence of so many Antrim players but the men on show for the Saffrons would still have been expected to account for struggling Westmeath. The Herron brothers Michael and Brendan hit opening Antrim points and after Westmeath levelled, Colm Duffin and Karl Stewart scores nudged the Saffrons two ahead again. By then, Stewart should have rattled the Westmeath net but he had missed a glorious goal chance. Antrim then lost their way badly before the break and Andrew Mitchell and Paddy Dowdall were among the Westmeath scorers as the visitors moved into a five-point lead. It could have been even worse for Antrim as goalkeeper Ryan McGarry had to make a couple of fine saves before the Saffrons recovered somewhat to trail 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval. Perhaps stirred by a few words from the redoubtable Sambo McNaughton, Antrim appeared more fired up after the break and they hit five of the next six scores to lead 0-14 to 0-11, with Stewart contributing four of the points. But instead of pushing on, the Saffrons again appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the closing stages and they were made to pay dearly. The loss of that point could well prove the difference between promotion and remaining in Division 2 by the end of the league campaign.
Antrim: R McGarry, K McGourty, N McGarry, S Delargy, K McKeegan, N McAuley, J Campbell, B Herron, P Shiels, K Stewart, C Duffin, E McCloskey, PJ O'Connell, S McNaughton, M Herron. Subs : C O'Connell, P Doherty, D McKillop, J Scullion, S McCrory, C McKinley, A Graffin, P McGill, K Sheerin. Sunday Allianz NHL Division 1 Galway 1-20 0-12 Kilkenny NHL Division 2 Antrim 0-15 0-15 Westmeath Offaly 1-17 0-6 Carlow Laois 1-13 0-10 Down NHL Division 3A Meath 0-16 1-12 Kildare NHL Division 3B Tyrone 2-10 2-14 Fingal Donegal 1-19 3-11 Longford NHL Division 4 Cavan 1-13 0-12 Fermanagh Sligo 2-13 0-5 Monaghan
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