Offaly 5-27
Antrim 4-9
ANY THOUGHTS OF this game being a non-event — the two were already guaranteed to meet next week in the Allianz National Hurling League Division IB relegation playoff — were blown away after throw-in was delayed by 15 minutes; reportedly because the visiting team believed the game was to start at 3pm instead of 2pm.
The Saffrons’ may have wished the game had been delayed even further as they found themselves trailing by 1-3 to no score inside seven minutes thanks to Ciaran Slevin’s goal.
Brian Whelahan’s men continued to pile on the pressure in the first half with Sean Clearly adding a second to ensure the Faithful had an 11 point lead (2-9 to 1-1) midway through the half; Nigel Elliott scoring Antrim’s goal.
And while the result in Tullamore will have no bearing on the league table, the hosts were obviously keen to lay down a marker ahead of the relegation playoff as three more goals before the break — Cleary again and Stephen Quirke twice — to take a 5-16 to 1-3 lead into half time.
A hat-trick for PJ O’Connell was the highlight of a second half as Kevin Ryan’s charges attempted to make the scoreboard look more respectable. However, Offaly used the final 35 minutes as shooting practise, adding 11 points and running out the most facile of winners.
