Antrim sink Carlow with last-gasp extra-time goal
An extraordinary Tailteann Cup first-round tie came to a dramatic conclusion with Antrim substitute Benen Kelly scoring a 92nd-minute goal with the last move of the game which condemned Carlow to defeat at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
Carlow were poor in the opening half and Antrim took full advantage. Ronan Boyle scored two goals in the second quarter and the full-forward line of Pat Shivers, Niall Burns and Dominic McEnhill accounted for the rest of their scorers in the half as the visitors led 2-10 to 0-7 at the interval.
When Ryan McQuillan scored an early second-half point and Eoghan Campbell goaled, an easy victory looked on the cards for the Saffrons.
Somehow, Carlow found a way back and helped by points from Lee Walker, Ross Dunphy and Conor Crowley they got a foothold of the game in the third quarter. Padhraig Bolger scored a goal from close range for the home side on 43 minutes and shortly afterwards Walker converted a penalty after he drew the foul inside the big square.
It was now a game fraught with tension. Carlow's reached out for victory and came in waves. Adam McCarron converted a two-point free to bring matters level after Antrim had been found guilty of a breach offence.
Jamie Clarke found the posts to push Carlow into the lead but at the death, Joseph Finnegan slotted the equaliser to bring the sides into extra-time tied at 4-16 to 2-22.
Just at the end, there was a moment of tension tension when it looked as if Carlow were going to be awarded a free in front of the posts but instead the referee, Conor Dourneen, hopped the ball with both sides having been found guilty of a breach offence as players vied for possession.
Antrim drew first blood in extra-time when McQuillan netted. It was the only score in those ten minutes but the excitement reached fever pitch in the second period as both sides dug deep in pursuit of victory.
With penalties looming Carlow registered a simple wide and from the kick-out, Antrim found a hole in their opponents' defence and Kelly was on hand to force the ball over the line and seal victory for the away side.
Antrim: John McNabb; John Morgan, Joseph Finnegan (0-01), Kavan Keenan; Eoghan McCabe (1-00), Peter Healy, Marc Jordan; Paddy McAleer, Eunan Walsh; Tiernan McCormack, Ryan McQuillan (1-03), Ronan Boyle (2-00); Pat Shivers (1-05, 1tp), Niall Burns (0-03), Dominic McEnhill (0-04, 1tp, 1f).
Subs: Tom Shivers for McCormack (49), Tomas McCann (0-01) for McEnhill (57), Benen Kelly (1-00) for Keenan (59), Adam Loughran for Boyle (59), Conor Hand for Jordan (65), Jordan for Finnegan (76), Cathal Hynds for McAleer (84).
Carlow: Ben McCarron; Kyle Nolan (0-02, 1tp), Niall Roche, Lee Moore; John Phiri (0-01), Dara Curran, Padhraig Bolger (1-01); Mark Furey, Adam Burgess; Paddy McDonnell (0-01), Lee Walker (1-04, 1-00 pen 3f), Conor Doyle; Jamie Clarke (0-02), Chris Blake (0-02), Ross Dunphy (0-03).
Subs: Conor Crowley (0-06) for Furey (41), Adam McCarron (0-03, 1tpf) for Blake (62), Aaron Amond for Nolan (53), Tadgh Roche for Burgess (69), Darragh Foley for Walker (69), Shane Buggy for Moore (78), Liam Gavin (0-01f) for Clarke (85), Cormac Lomax for Furey (89).
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).
