Exiles close the gap on hurling’s elite
 BY Larry
cooney
Antrim 2-16
London 1-14
If Antrim thought this was going to be an easy day at the office in the
first round of the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship then Mick O’Dea
and London had a rude awakening for the Saffron men.
The Northerners had lost by just a goal away to Kilkenny at Nowlan Park
in the league earlier this year but they looked relieved to get out of
Ruislip with their place in the Liam McCarthy Cup intact as the Exiles
were just two points in arrears with four minutes to go.
London dominated the early possession but in what has been the story of
their season so far they failed to convert their dominance into scores.
The hosts got off to the perfect start when a foul on Jim Ryan presented
Eddie Carey with an easy opportunity to open the scoring with a point
in the first minute.
It took 13 minutes for the Glensmen to level matters when Paddy Redmond
finally equalised with a shot over his shoulder.
Redmond put Antrim into the lead in the 19th minute but two Eddie Carey
frees restored the lead for Mick O’Dea’s battling team in
the 24th minute. Already the scent of a surprise was in the west London
air.
Brian Delargy equalised a minute later as the game began to ignite following
a slow opening quarter before a Jim McIntosh free put the Saffrons back
in front in the 27th minute.
Although Mick Gordon reduced the deficit just on the half-hour Antrim
seized the initiative just before the interval when full-forward Paddy
Richmond won possession on the edge of the square and eventually shook
off his marker to score the opening goal.
The half ended with a flurry of scores as both sides traded four points
to leave the half-time score Antrim 1- 6 to London’s 0-7.
Brian McFall opened Antrim’s account shortly after the restart.
That score was immediately cancelled out by Jim Ryan but ominously for
London the third quarter was dominated by the visitors who outscored the
Exiles by five points to three.
Despite conceding an unlucky second goal to Brian McFall after the sliotar
came off the post in the 52nd minute, London continued to battle inspired
by a magnificent performance from centre-back Fergus McMahon who despite
being a doubtful starter played superbly through the pain barrier.
Points from a Mick Gordon free and Darragh Smith kept London in contention
before their selectors decided to switch a struggling McMahon into the
full-forward line and move Mick Gordon to centre back.
A point from substitute Chris Hamill with 10 minutes remaining left the
score Antrim 2-13 to 0-11.
However a goal from McMahon in the 63rd minute immediately followed by
points from Darragh Smith and Gordon left just three points between the
sides with five minutes remaining.
Another Smith point left London just two in arrears as Antrim called on
all their survival instincts with three points from Richmond, Keegan and
McFall eventually earning them a place in next Sunday’s Ulster semi-final
against Down.
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