Antrim 1-13 Tipperary 0-13:ANTRIM MAINTAINED their 100 per cent start to the league with victory at Semple Stadium, Thurles, yesterday.

The platform for the win was laid either side of half-time when the visitors kicked seven points without reply to build a match-winning nine-point lead which proved too great for Tipperary to recover from despite a late rally.

“Ten minutes before and after half-time we played some superb football but the 25 minutes at the start and towards the end I wouldn’t be happy with as we let Tipp back into the game and we were hanging on by our fingernails towards the end,” admitted Antrim manager Liam Bradley.

Antrim scored the only goal of the game on 22 minutes when James Loughrey burst forward to take a pass from Kevin Brady and finished. Despite Barry Grogan responding, Antrim hit four points to lead 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

With their midfield dominant, Antrim increased their lead to nine points by the time Michael Quinlivan kicked Tipp’s first score of the second half in the 52nd minute. The score gave Tipperary confidence and they dominated the remainder of the game.

ANTRIM: C Kerr; P Gallagher, D O'Hagan, M McAleese; T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey (1-1); M McCann (0-1), C Kelly; M Sweeney, K Brady, M Armstrong (0-2); B Neeson, T McCann (0-5, three frees, one 45), P Cunningham (0-3, two frees). Subs: S Finch for O'Hagan (22), M Magill (0-1) for Neeson (26 mins), A Healy for Armstrong (48 mins), A Gallagher for Healy (65 mins).

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; R Costigan, P Codd, C McDonald; H Coghlan (0-1), T Ryan, R Kiely; B Jones, E Ryan; S Carey, P Austin (0-3), D Leahy; M Quinlivan (0-1), S Ryan, B Grogan (0-8, six frees). Subs: D Heffernan for S Ryan (half-time); B Mulvihill for Carey (half-time); D Lynch for Coghlan (45 mins); L McGrath for Leahy (53 mins); G Hannigan for E Ryan (62 mins).

Referee: C Lane (Cork).