Antrim lead Division 2A of Allianz Hurling League by a point heading into the final round of games following their 2-18 to 2-11 victory over Armagh at the Athletic Grounds.

Ciaran Clarke's 22nd minute goal helped the Saffrons to a four-point interval advantage before the hosts stormed back to take the lead 14 minutes into the second half. However, Antrim replied with a string of Deaglan Murphy points and a Conor McCann goal to move onto seven points, one ahead of Carlow, who needed a late Marty Kavanagh '65' to earn a 1-20 to 2-17 draw with promotion rivals Kildare in Newbridge.

The Lilywhites led by 2-7 to 0-11 at half-time and were still three points clear with four minutes to go when Craig Wall's goal levelled it. Kildare regained the lead before Kavanagh earned a share of the spoils for the Barrowsiders, who will be assured of a place in the divisional final if they can account for Armagh in the final round.

Westmeath's promotion hopes look over, despite cruising to a 2-20 to 2-7 win over London in the early throw-in at TEG Cusack Park.

Derek McNicholas and Darragh Egerton netted for the Lake County as an ill-disciplined London finished the game with 12 players and remain bottom of the table alongside Armagh.

Antrim - C O'Connell; S Rooney, J Dillon, C Johnston; T Coyle, M Donnelly, P Burke; C McKinley (0-2), S McCrory; E Campbell (0-1), C McCann (1-2), N McKenna; C Clarke (1-3), N McAuley, C Johnston (0-2). Subs: D Murphy (0-7, 5f) for N McKenna, J McNaughton (0-1) for E Campbell, D McKernan for C Clarke, M Connolly for N McAuley.

Armagh ­­ S Doherty; C Clifford, A McGuinness, D Bridges; J Corvan, N Curry, T Nevin; S Renaghan, C Devlin; D McKenna (0-1), E McGuinness, D Carvill (0-5f); C Carvill (2-3), R Gaffney, C Corvan. Subs: D Magee (0-1) for S Renaghan, O Curry for D Bridges, P McKearney for C Devlin, C Gorman (0-1) for D McKenna.

Referee - D Hughes.

**

Kildare - P Dermody; C Forde, J Doran, N O Muineachain; S Gainey, M Moloney, R Bergin; M Reidy, D Reidy (1-8, 1-0pen, 0-5f); J Mulhall (0-1), P Divilly (1-5), M Purcell; B Byrne, J Sheridan (0-2, 1sl), M Delaney. Subs: C Bonus for S Gainey, R Ryan (0-1) for M Purcell.

Carlow - J Carroll; A Corcoran, P Doyle, G Bennett; S Whelan (0-1), D English (0-2f), R Coady; J Kavanagh (0-1), J Murphy (0-1); J Nolan (0-3, 1f), P Coady (0-5, 3f), E Byrne (0-1); C Nolan, C Wall (1-2), M Kavanagh (0-1'65). Subs: S Murphy for J Nolan, R Kelly for R Coady, K McDonald (0-3f) for P Coady, J Doyle for J Kavanagh.

Referee - C Canning.

**

Westmeath - P Maloney; S Power, T Doyle, K Duncan; A Craig, P Greville (0-3), T Gallagher; A Clarke (0-1), G Greville; A Devine (0-11, 7f), R Greville (0-1), N Mitchell; D Egerton (1-0), B Murtagh, J Boyle (0-2). Subs: D McNicholas (1-2) for B Murtagh, A Cox for K Duncan, C Shaw for A Craig, J Galvin for D McNicholas, M Heeney for G Greville.

London - E Kelly; M Conroy, O Gately, F Collins; A Griffiths, P Horkan, S Bardon; N Rogers, E Cooney; O Shiel, T Healy (0-1), P Uniacke; A Murphy, R Murphy, K O'Loughlin (2-6). Subs: S Griffey for F Collins, S O'Donnell for P Uniacke, D Roberts for O Shiel, J Kelly for N Rogers, C Kerr for S Griffey.

Referee - J Keane.

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