McCann goal proves decisive as Antrim pip Wexford

Antrim's Ruairí McCann. Pic: Leah Scholes, Inpho

Tailteann Cup: Antrim 1-15 Wexford 0-17 

Ruairi McCann's sixth-minute goal proved decisive as in the end it ensured a one-point Antrim victory over a battling Wexford outfit in their Tailteann Cup second-round game at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Through the opening thirty-five minutes, Wexford never managed to cancel out the goal, trailing by four points at the interval. 

While they showed improvement on the resumption, it was Antrim's ability to ability to kick points from distance that helped them stave off the home challenge.

But despite their victory, manager Andy McEntee was quite frustrated on the sideline, particularly with the missing of two gilt-edged goal chances, one in each half, when a successful execution on either occasion would have put the game beyond the home side.

The first of those misses arrived minutes before the break, when keeper Michael Byrne intercepted a poor Wexford kick-out and put Conor Hand inside the defence, but he blazed wide of an open goal.

Antrim were presented with a further chance of sealing the result five minutes from the end, but corner-forward Marc Jordan coming on the end of a splendid move was clear in the centre but kept his shot too close to keeper William Foley, who managed to knock the ball away to safety.

Wexford opened the game with two quickfire points through Darragh Lyons and Paraic Hughes, but then came McCann's goal giving his side a 1-0 to 0-2 lead, a lead they were to hold for the remainder of the game.

Antrim were boosted through fine points from Declan Lynch, Niall Burns and Dermot McAleese, with Sean Nolan points keeping the home side in contention, but with Ryan McQuillan kicking over fine points, it was Antrim who led 1-8 to 0-7 at the interval.

Wexford had an early second half point from Sean Nolan, but it was still Antrim who led 1-10 to 0-12, after forty-eight minutes.

Antrim managed to hold off the Wexford challenge, responding with points through outstanding midfielder Patrick McAleer, keeper Michael Byrne, from a 45, and Ryan McQuillan, seeing them restore their four-point advantage, 1-13 to 0-12, after fifty-five minutes.

While the sides went on to exchange further points, it was Antrim who had to defend desperately in additional time as Wexford added pointed frees through Ben Brosnan and Mark Rossiter, with what turned out to be the final score of the game.

Wexford: W Foley; E Porter, G Sheehan, D Lyons (0-2); D Furlong, P Hughes (0-2), G Malone; L Coleman, N Hughes (0-1); K O'Grady (0-1), E Nolan, M Rossiter (0-3, 0-2 frees); C Carty, S Nolan (0-6, 4f), L O'Connor. 

Subs: J Higgins (0-1) for Carty (ht); C Kinsella for Nolan (44), G Staples for Lyons (60); B Brosnan (0-1 free) for O'Grady (67); J Bealin for S Nolan (68).

Antrim: M Byrne (0-1, 45); D Lynch (0-1), E Walsh, K Keenan; N Burns (0-1), J Flanagan (0-1), D McAleese (0-1); P McAleer (0-3), C Hynds (0-1); C Hand, P McBride, R McCann (Creagan); R McQuillan (0-6, 0-3 frees), R McCann (Naomh Mhuire) (1-0), M Jordan. 

Subs: D McEnhill for R McCann (Cregan) (50); J McDonnell Keenan (66); C McLarnan (73).

Referee: D Murnane (Cork).