Saffrons fend off stiff Carlow challenge

Antrim produced a strong finish to maintain their 100% record in the Joe McDonagh Cup at the expense of Carlow at Corrigan Park.

The visitors entered the game keen to make up for last week's disappointment against Kerry and when leading by two with nine to play, it seemed they were on course to do just that until the hosts rattled off six points in a row to tip the balance their way.

Conal Cunning top-scored with 1-11 for the victors with his Dunloy clubmate Seaan Elliott adding three excellent points from play while Martin Kavanagh and Chris Nolan shone in attack for the Barrowsiders, but this was a day for rolling up the sleeves in a tough encounter that Antrim just managed to find the answers at the right time to prevail.

While Paddy Burke pointed the hosts into the lead on 16 seconds, they took a little while to get to grips with this game as after Martin Kavanagh tied matters from a free, Ryan Elliott was forced into a low save from Conor Kehoe who got through on goal too easily.

Carlow were crowding their defence and creating more, but poor shooting left the sides locked on 0-03 apiece after 12 minutes when Antrim were in for their first goal as Ciaran Clarke made a good break and passed inside to Conal Cunning to do the honours.

A pair of Cunning frees stretched the lead, while Kavanagh's flick to John Michael Nolan's line ball at the other end flashed just over.

Goal number two for the hosts would come on 18 minutes and it was a beauty of a finish from Neil McManus who jinked inside and finished past Brian Tracey at the near post after the ball moved through Joe Maskey, Clarke and Conor McCann.

Two goals was the gap on 25 minutes when Carlow struck for one of their own as Eoghan Campbell missed a long ball and Chris