Antrim thumped by Galway in Leinster Championship

BBC News

17-05-2025

Antrim's hopes of remaining in the Leinster Championship were dealt another blow as they were heavily beaten 6-27 to 1-14 by a clinical Galway side at Pearse Stadium.Davy Fitzgerald's side trailed 2-13 to 0-8 at half-time with Brian Concannon and Anthony Burns netting Galway's goals after some poor defending from the Saffrons.They had Declan McCloskey sent off just before the break and Micheal Donoghue's men ran out comfortable winners after a ruthless second-half display.Concannon, Burns, Declan McLaughlin and Kevin Cooney scored their goals in the second half with Niall McGarel netting Antrim's consolation strike.Fitzgerald's side have now lost their opening four games and they will need to beat Offaly next weekend in Tullamore to avoid relegation.
Galway punish slack Saffrons
Antrim had suffered losses against Wexford, Kilkenny and Dublin heading into the game in Salthill, but made a bright start as Joe McLaughlin scored their first two points.Conor Whelan responded with two for Galway before Niall O'Connor and Conor Cooney traded scores.The Tribesmen then rattled off three successive points to go ahead for the first time, but Antrim reduced the gap to one point.Monaghan and Cooney re-established Galway's advantage before Antrim stopper Ryan Elliot thwarted Concannon's goal attempt.Cooney and McLaughlin exchanged two more frees each and Concannon rifled home a goal on 29 minutes.Paddy Burke fouled Whelan, but the referee opted to play the advantage and Concannon was not to be denied twice in quick succession.Cooney tagged on some more frees with Burns then finishing low to net a second goal in first-half stoppage time.Things went from bad to worse for the Saffrons, who hit seven wides in the first half, as Declan McCloskey was shown a controversial straight red card for grappling.Cooney stroked over his seventh free of the first half to give Galway an 11-point advantage at the break.
Fourteen-man Antrim struggle as Galway dominate
Down to 14 men, Antrim struggled and after the two sides exchanged early scores, Concannon netted Galway's third goal five minutes after the restart.Monaghan and Cooney added more points to stretch Galway's commanding lead before a fourth goal arrived soon after the third.Elliott did well to deny Joshua Ryan, but the Tribesmen recycled the ball and Concannon set up Burns to stroke home his second goal.McLaughlin and Gerard Walsh converted frees to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Antrim, but Galway continued to pick them off at the other end.Concannon squandered the chance for a hat-trick as he hit the side-netting before he set up McLaughlin for Galway's fifth goal.McGarel poked home from close range for a late Antrim goal, but moments later Galway went up the other end and Cooney got their sixth.They added some more late scores to round off the 28-point thrashing.