Antrim fight back to secure draw

Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup Group C
Antrim 0-12 Down 0-12

Martin Clarke kicked a late point to secure 0-12 to 0-12 draw for Down in their Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup Section C clash with Antrim at Casement Park on Wednesday night.

Such an intervention looked like it would be completely unnecessary at half-time, when the Mournemen led by 0-9 to 0-3.

However, the game was turned on its head early in the second half when both sides had a man sent off following an off the ball incident, James Colgan for Down and Antrim’s Tomás McCann.

The Saffrons were emboldened by the change in circumstances and, with the help of some excellent work by Paddy Cunningham (0-9, 0-7f), they, quite remarkably, scored seven of the next eight points to level the game at 0-10 apiece.

They managed to nudge into the lead in the 62nd minute when Mark Dougan, a half-time substitute, fielded a long ball and fisted over the bar.

Just when it looked like Liam Bradley’s men would take home the points, however, Clarke intervened to save Down with a last-gasp point following a superb move which involved Danny Hughes and Benny Coulter.

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Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup Group B
Derry 2-15 Queen’s 0-6

Derry showed little mercy in dismantling Queen’s by 2-15 to 0-6 in Section B of the McKenna Cup at Celtic Park.

James Kielt, playing against his inter-county team-mates, had an early penalty saved in what was an indication of the luck the students would enjoy in a one-sided game.

Minutes later, Seán Leo McGoldrick scored Derry’s opening goal, leaving the Oak Leafers 1-4 to 0-4 to the good at the break.

Queen’s made the better start to the second half, with Niall McKenna pointing on the resumption, but Derry soon took complete control of the game.

Paddy Bradley’s goal two minutes into the second half came about after a mistake by Queen’s ‘keeper Peter Graham, ending the students’ challenge in the process.

Having beaten Cavan in their first Section B game, Derry now look certain to progress to the semi-finals of the competition.