Antrim 1-11
Carlow 2-7

Antrim got themselves off to a winning start in Division Two of the National Hurling League yesterday when they edged out a brave Carlow outfit by a single point at Casement Park, Belfast.

In a hectic final quarter, the sides were level on 1-10 to 2-7 when Saffrons wing-forward Liam Watson sent over the winner from a free with two minutes to go to hand Dinny Cahill his first competitive win as Antrim boss.

The hosts had raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead after 13 minutes when midfielder Martin Scullion flicked the ball into the Carlow net. The visitors' response was a good one, as corner-forward Paudie Kehoe brought them back into the game with a few well struck frees, before Craig Doyle converted Eoin Nolan's high free to the net to help cut the deficit to 1-6 to 1-4 at the break.

Antrim made several positional changes for the second-half, but it couldn't stop Carlow bagging their second major in the 49th minute when Damian Roberts and Andy Gaule combined to release Kehoe, who dispatched the ball past Chris O'Connell to raise the green flag.

The hosts got their noses back in front seven minutes later after Neil McManus and Watson sent over a free each, but with six minutes remaining Carlow drew the game level again when Gaule and Shane Kavanagh popped up with score, before Watson stole the show with two minutes to go.

Antrim - C O'Connell; B McFall, N McGarry, N McAuley; A Graffin, K McKeegan, C Herron; M Scullion (1-0), N McManus 0-3, two frees); S McCrory (0-2), C McBride, L Watson (0-4, three frees); S McNaughton (0-2), T McCann, D Hamill. Subs: C McFall for McBride (40 mins), P McGill for Scullion (57 mins).

Carlow - D Miley; A Corcoran, S Kavanagh (0-1, free), D Shaw; E Coady, E Nolan, R Coady; C Hughes, D Roberts; R Dunbar, E Byrne, M Brennan (0-1); A Gaule (0-2), C Doyle (1-0), P Kehoe (1-3, three frees). Subs: D English for Dunbar (half-time), B Lawlor for Kehoe (61 mins).

Ref: E Hasson (Derry) Tweet

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