BBC NI's match report from the Kildare V Antrim qualifier, http://tinyurl.com/2c5ag6p
suggests that Antrim might have 'stolen' the match at the end of both normal time and extra time. The BBC have got it wrong, again. Had Antrim's footballers won the game it would have been just reward for a performance full of determination, skill, some wonderful scores and a willingness to stand and fight for championship survival.
The match was in danger of being over shadowed by the emotion surrounding the death and funeral of Dermot Early snr, a Roscommon and Kildare GAA legend whose son lined out for the Lillywhites at midfield. Dermot's memory was well respected, but thereafter the game came into it own. Paddy Cunningham set the Antrim trend with two early points before Kildare fired themselves into the lead with some well taken points. Thomas McCann finished off a superb saffron move with an audacious goal effort which, had it gone under the crossbar rather then ricocheting over, would have been celebrated as a potential goal of the season. Kildare got sloppy towards the end of the first half and we scored the last two points to leave one in it at the berak.
In the second half Kildare could never get further than two points ahead and it was Antrim who finished the stronger. Kevin McGourty played a gigantic game and his score drew the sides level on full time. Tony Scullion may have won the game late on but a draw was a fair outcome.
Into extra time then and we looked in trouble when Kildare scored two points early on. Paddy socred his 9th to bring the margin to the minimum just before the break. In that period Kildare missed a goalden goal chance which left some of us wondering it going to be our night? In the second period Antrim poured forward but when one Paddy Cunningham free fell short, it looked ominous. Hard won possession led to another free which appeared to be further out, but Cunningham stepped up, kept his cool and levelled the game. As in normal time we might have won in the end. It was Antrim who were now bossing the game and turning over possession, yet despite a two minute fracas interrupting play the referee blew up right on the 10 minute mark.
We left Newbridge with a sense of achievement. We faced a team who last year went to the All Ireland Quarter final, up against a bg home crowd and all the emotion that went with the sad death and burial of Dermot Early snr. And we left with our name in the hat for the second round draw, and a terrific double header in prospect next weekend.
Last night's performance will mean so much more if we put Kildare away next weekend. Can we? I would say Antrim have further to improve - some of our players have more to contribute next weekend and if that happens, well, the Saffron summer could be well and truly underway. There were lots of strong performances last night, none more so than that from Kevin McGourty. He caught some great balls, rode some hard tackles and withstood with maturity a cynical stroke as extra time began. He pitched in with 3 great points as well. Sean McGreevy, Kevin O'Boyle, Tony Scullion and Paddy Cunningham also excelled.
It was a night when two championships debutants appeared (Finch and Doherty) and when Thomas McCann went off and re-appeared in extra time. It was a night when Kildare fans around us were utterly convinced that Antrim offered no prospect of a challenge. They thought differently at the end. It was a night to remember.
Rounding off a solid Antrim weekend, our hurlers strolled to an all too comfortable win over Down in the Ulster Hurling Final. Liam Watson, Karl McKeegan and PJ O'Connell led the scoring. Given Carlow's somewhat surprise win over Laois, they will be the oppsoition next aturday in the All Ireland qualifiers. See match report from RTE, http://tinyurl.com/2ch3bt2
The draw for the next round of qualifiers takes place tomorrow morning. Next weekend meanwhile is one not to miss.
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