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Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
Rout

Ravenous Cats polish off Antrim without fuss

Hat trick of goals for Martin Keoghan in one-sided affair

Kilkenny: 5-31

Antrim: 3-20

 

THERE ARE BEATINGS and then there are hammerings.

There are hammerings in which you can even excuse away as just ‘one of those things.’ But then there are some that are so overwhelming it makes you question everything you are doing.

Forget about Kilkenny here for a moment.

This game was a return of top-class hurling in Belfast. It was keenly anticipated and expected to be a day where Antrim could perform and emerge with credit.

Their county board’s fundraising wing, their management along with Brendan Murphy heading up the strength and conditioning wing, and the players have been striving manfully for the last number of years to become a properly established county among the games’ elite.

And then this happens.

Asked about any positives thought could be pulled from the wreckage, Antrim manager Darren Gleeson blew out and sighed.

“I don’t have many positive spins on that,” he stated baldly.

“It was below par first half performance. Basic requirements, track your man, touch-tight defending, putting yourself on the line – it wasn’t there.

“I mean that from one to fifteen, it just wasn’t at the level it was meant to be or the level you’d expect a team to be at. You should be seriously motivated when you get the opportunity to play a team like Kilkenny in your own house, and came flat.

“We’ll look at ourselves, I’ll look at myself and our management team and how we went about it. Then we’ll have a look at the players and see how we get it right for a couple of weeks’ time.”

For a county like Antrim to be competitive, they need everyone around. Instead, they lost captain Eoghan Campbell who was wearing a protective boot around his foot.

Nigel Elliott broke a toe against Dublin. His brother Seann hobbled off against Wexford. They joined long term injuries Dan McKernan, Ciaran Clarke and Conor McCann. Before the end here, Neil McManus also came off with a hamstring injury.

For a team that began the Leinster Championship with a training camp in Portugal under the belts, it has gotten heavy going.

“We’re not meant to be beating Kilkenny in the eyes of the public,” said Gleeson.

“We build ourselves up to try and be equals with them. We train like them, we try and have setups like them. Their depth into the squad is unbelievable, you see multiple All-Ireland winners, Allstars, Hurlers of the Year coming off the bench.

“We’re trying to blood in four or five young kids into it. Two of them starting today, two coming off the bench, we have to do that. They have the luxury of being able to do that. We like to see ourselves up against teams like that but we have to stay exposing ourselves to strengthen our squad.”

From not scoring a goal in the opening two games, Kilkenny had four by the break here, Tullaroan’s Martin Keoghan with a trio for himself.

With the wind advantage they had compiled 4-16 to answer Antrim’s 1-7 by the break. Occasionally, Antrim goalkeeper Ryan Elliott might find Paddy Burke with a short puckout but when Kilkenny pushed up, they wiped the hosts out in the aerial battles.

With a nervousness creeping in to Antrim’s play, their hurling went to the dogs at times. Missing picks, taking too many touches and getting hooked and blocked, Kilkenny were just far more knacky and crafty.

“There was no element of surprise and how difficult it was going to be for us earlier in the year. The last couple of times we have played Antrim they have been close games,” pointed out Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng on a day that was useful in as much as a confidence builder, but not much else.

“Obviously their results up to date have been very strong as well. They drew with Dublin. We were up for it, and you have to be.”

Counties like Antrim, Westmeath and Laois continue to put themselves forward as potential challengers. They make gains in all the areas they have under their control.

When days like these come along then, they sting bad.

 

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 2-10 (6f, 2x’45), Martin Keoghan 3-2, Billy Ryan 0-4, Alan Murphy 0-3, Eoin Cody, Adrian Mullen, Walter Walsh 0-2 each, David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Tom Phelan, Cillian Buckley 0-1 each, Eoin Murphy 0-1, 1f.

Scorers for Antrim: Conal Cunning 0-8 (6f, 1x’65’), Keelan Molloy 1-2, Neil McManus 1-1, Niall McKenna 0-4, Paul Boyle 0-2, James McNaughton 0-2, Gerard Walsh 0-1.

 

Kilkenny

1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)

2. Mikey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels), 3. Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels), 4. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan)

5. David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), 6. Richie Reid (Ballyhale), 7. Darragh Corcoran (Ballyhale)

8. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale), 9. Alan Murphy (Glenmore)

10. Tom Phelan (Conahy), 11. John Donnelly (Thomastown), 12. Billy Ryan (Graigue Ballycallan)

13. Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan), 14. TJ Reid (Ballyhale), 15. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale)

Subs:

19. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan) for Walsh (43)

18. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro) for Alan Murphy (48)

25. Walter Walsh (Tullogher) for Phelan (55)

26. Richie Hogan (Danesfort) for Mullen (61)

22. Niall Brennan (Lisdowney) for Keoghan (65)

 

Antrim

1. Ryan Elliott (Dunloy)

2. Paddy Burke (Cushendall), 3. Ryan McGarry (Dunloy), 4. Niall O’Connor (St Enda’s)

5. Gerard Walsh (O’Donovan Rossa), 9. Michael Bradley (St John’s), 7. Conal Bohill (St John’s)

8. James McNaughton (Loughgiel), 23. Paul Boyle (Loughgiel)

10. Keelan Molloy (Dunloy), 11. Conal Cunning (Dunloy), 12. Niall McKenna (Sarsfields)

13. Conor Johnston (St John’s), 14. Neil McManus (Cushendall), 15. Rian McMullan (Loughgiel)

Subs:

17. Stephen Rooney (St Paul’s) for Bradley (34)

26. Domhnall Nugent (St John’s) for McManus (53)

24. Eoin O’Neill (Dunloy) for McMullan (53)

20. Caolan McKernan (Sarsfields) for Walsh (58)

25. Seamie McAuley (Ballycastle) for Molloy (64)

 

 Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)

 

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