2022 Allianz Hurling League Division 1 – Waterford 3-21 Antrim 2-22

Waterford defeated Antrim by 3-21 to 2-22 in Round 3 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 on Sunday February 27th at Corrigan Park Belfast.

REPORT: Waterford edged out Antrim in the Allianz Hurling League

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 27, 2022

Allianz HL D1B: Waterford edge out Antrim

WATERFORD 3-21 ANTRIM 2-22

Report By David Mohan at Corrigan Park for GAA.ie

Shaun O’Brien got a vital touch to divert Neil McManus’ last-gasp penalty up and over the bar to ensure Waterford denied Antrim a share of the spoils in a thrilling game at Corrigan Park.

This game had it all with Colin Dunford sent-off having previously bagged two goals, but despite the numerical disadvantage, Waterford found the answers in the second period to overturn a four-point half-time deficit.

Austin Gleeson was in inspired form in the second period as the visitors went five clear, but in the end were left to breathe a sigh of relief as Antrim’s fightback fell short.

Playing with a significant wind advantage, Antrim were much quicker to settle with Neil McManus landing points either side of efforts from Keelan Molloy and Daniel McKernan, but the hosts had goalkeeper Ryan Elliott to thank for diverting Stephen Bennett’s rasping shot up and over for a point.

The Dunloy man was unable to do anything on nine minutes when Colin Dunford was picked out b DJ Foran in the corner and the Colligan man rounded Stephen Rooney to slot home on the angle and give the visitors a 1-2 to 0-4 lead.

Antrim responded brilliantly with four of the next five scores including a missile from Gerard Walsh deep in his own half and the route one approach would pay off even more on 14 minutes as a long ball squirted free with Keelan Molloy playing back to Domhnall Nugent who bulldozed forward and applied the finish to the net.

Waterford would hit 10 wides in the first half with the wind playing havoc, but Antrim were much more economical and had moved six clear when first, Tome Barron pointed and then on 29 minutes, Dunford would be first to a dropping ball to fire through a ruck of players and find the net to reduce the gap to two.

However Thomas Gleeson gave him his marching orders for an off the ball incident and with McManus continuing to knock over frees to bring his first-half tally to eight points in all, Antrim led 1-14 to 2-7 at the break.

Waterford made much the better start to the second period and after hitting two of the first three points, struck for goal when Stephen Bennett read Gerard Walsh’s attempted short pass to intercept and find Michael Kiely who blasted home to level.

By the midway point of the second period, they had pushed on and led by five with Gleeson leading the way as Antrim looked like their challenge was fading, but the hosts rallied with fine scores from Molloy and Bradley keeping them in touch.

Bennett and Gleeson continued to maintain a gap for Liam Cahill’s men, but it was game-on again on 62 minutes when Ciaran Clarke rattled the net after pouncing on a break from a tight angle and a Cunning point left just one in it.

However, Waterford were able to find the answers with three Gleeson points leaving a goal in it until Antrim were given a penalty deep in injury-time after Conor McCann was taken down when about to finish to the net after O’Brien had saved from David Kearney.

McManus stepped-up and went high, but O’Brien got the vital touch to keep the ball out of the net and ensure the points were heading back to the south east.

Scorers for Waterford: Austin Gleeson 0-8 (4 frees, 1 sideline, Colin Dunford 2-1, Stephen Bennet 0-6 (5 frees), Michael Kiely 1-0, Neil Montgomery 0-2, Ciaran Kirwan 0-1, Tadhg de Burca 0-1, Tom Barron 0-1, Darragh Lyons 0-1.

Scorers for Antrim: Neil McManus 0-13 (8 frees, 1 penalty, 1 65), Domhnall Nugent 1-0, Ciaran Clarke 1-0, Keelan Molloy 0-2, Michael Bradley 0-2, Conal Cunning 0-2, Gerard Walsh 0-1, Daniel McKernan 0-1, Seaan Elliott 0-1.

REFEREE: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).

Team News

The Waterford Senior Hurling Team to play Antrim in Sunday's Allianz Hurling League game has been announced…

Best of Luck to Liam Cahill, his management team and all involved!#deiseabú
⚪🔵 pic.twitter.com/30xyifn4OT

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) February 25, 2022

WATERFORD (SH v Antrim) – S O’Brien; C Gleeson, C Prunty, I Daly; C Dalton, T De Burca, T Barron; D Lyons, J Fagan; N Montgomery, A Gleeson, DJ Foran; S Bennett, C Kirwan, C Dunford.

Match Preview

It's another busy weekend of Allianz Hurling League action. Check out our guide to the matches across all the divisions! #GAABelong #AllianzLeagues

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 25, 2022