Antrim take advantage over London

Antrim 1-17
London 1-7

Antrim secured a place in the Leinster senior hurling championship quarter-final with a seven-point win over 14-man London in yesterday's round-round clash at Ballycastle.

The victory makes it three wins from three for the Ulster side but they failed to impress against a gritty London side who bagged two second-half goals to trail by just two points with less than 15 minutes to go.

Antrim bossed possession but failed to make it count on the scoreboard, shooting 17 wides over the 70 minutes. A goal from Paul Shiels just after the restart failed to ignite them and majors from Mark Duggan and Kevin Walsh reduced the deficit. However, the home side replied with six unanswered points to secure victory.

A lacklustre first-half finished with the home side one point to the good, 0-6 to 0-5.

Within two minutes of the restart, Antrim bagged their goal when Shiels fired home. Eoin Kelly responded with a free but three further Antrim points opened up a six-point gap.

In-between, London were reduced to 14 men when Noel McDonald received a straight red. Then came the first of London’s goals. Antrim goalkeeper Chris O’Connell looked to have Duggan’s shot covered but the sliotar found its way to the back of the net for a 1-9 to 1-6 scoreline.

Responded well
Antrim responded through Shiels and Ciarán Johnston, but the lead was reduced when O'Connell failed to stop Walsh's 56th minute effort. Again Antrim responded well, this time adding six without reply, the pick of which came from Eoin Campbell. Kelly converted a free for London to complete the scoring.

Antrim now have a week's break before completing the round-robin series against Laois. London face Laois next week, and complete their series a week later against Westmeath.

ANTRIM: C O'Connell; O McFadden, C McKinley, A Graffin, S McCrory, N McAuley, N McManus (0-1); E Campbell (0-1), Ciaran Johnston; C Carson, D Hamill, C McCann; C Clarke (0-3, one free), P Shiels (1-10, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65), PJ O'Connell. Subs: B McFall for S McCrory, Conor Johnston (0-1) for D Hamill, S McAfee (0-1) for C McCann, T McCann for C Carson, M Bradley for E Campbell
LONDON: J Barrett; C McAlinden, R Foy, N McDonald; E Cooney, PJ Rowe, S Fawley; D Moore (0-1), H Vaughan; P Phelan (0-1), E Kelly 0-5, three frees, two 65s), M Lynch; K Walsh (1-0), M Duggan (1-0), L Hands. Subs: K Killilea for L Hands, P Cocoman for P Phelan, D Egan for M Lynch
Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow)