Antrim run riot to deep Waterford despair
Waterford's despair drags on. Yet another Allianz Football League Division 4 defeat, and this one - inflicted by Antrim - could be seen coming after a quarter of an hour of football.
The visitors dominated from start to finish at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, Dungarvan, on Sunday afternoon. After 15 minutes, Antrim had 1-06 on the board. By the end of the half, their tally had reached 2-13.
Even though their first-half control was aided by a stiff breeze, the second-half change of ends did little to halt Antrim's charge.
The Saffrons outscored the hosts 0-05 to 0-02 in the first 20 minutes of the latter act. And even when Waterford put their second white flag of the second half on the board through James Walsh, the Antrim response was the third and fourth green flags to continue the rout.
First, substitute Ruairi O’Hagan and Joseph Finnegan worked it to Ryan McQuilligan for a slick finish after 59 minutes. Then, three minutes later, John McNabb’s '45' came off the upright and landed just outside the square. Adam Loughran was quickest to react, kicking it first time to the net.
By that stage, Antrim’s lead had reached 23. It would peak at 24, though by conclusion it would stand at 19, following a couple of well-taken late two-point frees from Michael O’Brien.
The early orange flags stood to the Saffrons as they built up an insurmountable advantage. Two of those from outside the arc were struck inside the opening two minutes with the wind, Pat Shivers and Dominic McEnhill on target. The pair would be gifted a white flag opportunity moments later from a stray Paudie Hunt kickout, and Shivers would tee up McEnhill for the score.
That was the story of the Déise’s first half. Antrim were sharp, but Waterford were their own worst enemy. They had far too many turnovers.
After 11 minutes, Antrim drove home their first goal, Peter Healy and Finnegan combining to set up Marc Jordan for the finish.
And they continued to push further ahead, McEnhill nailing a two-point free after a Waterford breach, leaving it 1-10 to 0-01 with 23 minutes played.
O’Brien would add Waterford’s second point after 25 minutes, but the visitors hit back with 1-03 unanswered, Peter Healy slipping through all too easily to dispatch the second goal, before McEnhill and Paddy McAleer added points.
By the interval it was 2-13 to 0-04. On the resumption, with the wind, the Déise’s fortunes did not improve. An 11th consecutive league and championship defeat for Waterford, and a full 365 days without a competitive win.Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Tommy Martin, Billy Hynes, Conor Ó Cuirrín; Adam Crawford, Caoimhín Walsh (0-01), Glen Power; Dermot Ryan (capt) (0-01), Michael O’Brien (0-05, 2 tpf); James Walsh (0-01), Alan Dunwoody, Liam Mulligan; Darragh Walsh, Stephen Curry (0-02, 0-01 f), Adam Murray
Subs: Cian Kiely for Ó Cuirrín (28), Colin Foley for Crawford (HT), Kyle Flynn for Murray (52), Conor Keating (0-01) for D Walsh (57)Antrim: John McNabb; John Morgan, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Joseph Finnegan (0-01), Peter Healy (1-00), Eoghan McCabe (capt) (0-01); Paddy McAleer (0-02, 0-01 f), Marc Jordan (1-00); Ronan Boyle, Dominic McEnhill (0-08, 1 tp, 1 tpf), Tiernan McCormack; Ryan McQuilligan (1-00), Adam Loughran (1-00), Pat Shivers (0-05, 1 tp, 0-01f)
Subs: Seán O’Neill (0-01) for Jordan (HT), Ruairi O’Hagan for Healy (51), James McAuley for McCormack (58), Tomas McCann for Boyle, Tom Shivers for P Shivers (both 62)
Referee: Mark Loughran (Tyrone)
