Antrim left demoralised

NHL Division One B/ Kilkenny 2-21 Antrim 0-11: Antrim's joint-manager Dominic McKinley pulled no punches as he described his side's crushing defeat by Kilkenny yesterday as "demoralising".

It should have been an occasion to remember as the National Hurling League Division One B fixture marked the opening of the £1.8 million McQuillan's complex at Ballycastle - instead it will go down as one of those games best forgotten.

After watching his side lose by 16 points, McKinley said: "It was demoralising, and tough to speak about it. We let the home crowd down, everybody. We were way off the pace, terrible. We gave them the easy early goal to set us back on our heels - and Eddie Brennan's pace caused us problems, big time."

He added: "There are tough days ahead, and it is going to be hard to pick the players up for Wednesday night's floodlit game against Dublin at Casement Park."

Brennan top-scored with 1-4 of Kilkenny's 2-21 total, making it a stroll for the All-Ireland champions.

A Martin Comerford goal in the opening minute gave Kilkenny the perfect start. That set the tone for what followed with Antrim receiving a hurling lesson throughout. Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, whose side remain on course for the play-offs, could afford to be magnanimous in victory, saying: "The scoreline does not reflect the true competitive nature of the game."

Every mistake by Antrim was ruthlessly punished and, in the dying moments, Brennan added Kilkenny's second goal.

ANTRIM: D D Quinn; B McAuley, M McCambridge, S Delargy; M Molloy, J Campbell, K Elliott; C Herron, B Herron; K McKeegan, N McManus, M Herron (0-3); B McFall (0-8, frees), K Stewart, P Shields. Subs: N McAuley for Elliott (43 mins), M Scullion for Herron (45 mins), A Griffin for Molloy (50 mins).

KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; Jackie Tyrell, Brian Hogan, JJ Delaney; James Tyrell, PJ Delaney, Tommy Walsh; D Lyng (0-3), M Rice (0-1); W Dwyer, E Brennan (1-4), R Power (0-4), E McCormick (0-1), M Comerford (1-3), A Fogarty (0-5). Subs: J Dalton for Rice (48 mins), J Tennyson for PJ Delaney (51 mins), D Cody for J Tyrell (59 mins).

Referee: J Owen(Wexford).