Antrim give champions real fright

The procession anticipated for the All-Ireland champions did not even begin to look like materialsing until the closing stages at Croke Park yesterday.

By that time a brave Antrim team had finally shot its bolt, having crammed so much into the opening period. Tipperary finally got the breathing space to stack up the scores but Nicky English was not overjoyed with his team's performance.

Tipperary looked shell-shocked in the first half as Antrim produced a level of performance that probably surprised even themselves. Undaunted by Tipperary's smooth start that yielded three points Antrim manfully responded with vigour, skill and great confidence. Liam Richmond's classical 55-yard point when on the run signposted what the challengers were capable of.

English looked a worried man moving along the line trying to get urgent advice to his players, who were repeatedly coming under pressure because of the fast and furious pace generally employed by Antrim to move from defence to attack. Antrim's first touch play was hugely impressive and Liam Watson's cheeky goal from a free sent the alarm bells ringing loud in the champions' camp.

Watson's goal, a searing shot which Brendan Cummins could only divert into the net, earned Antrim a 1-3 to 0-5 lead at the outset of the second quarter.

With the added support of the Galway and Clare contingent in the crowd, at this stage the Antrim threat rose to totally unexpected heights. Tipperary were visibly ruffled and welcomed Brian O'Meara's equalising point.

The sides were on level terms four times in all in that first half before the Richmond brothers contrived a great goal just on half time, Paddy finding Liam unmarked inside an unsettled Tipperary back line for a great score.

Everything Antrim did seemed to turn to gold in that first half; their speed unnerving the Tipperary cover and but for the inspirational play of Paul Kelly on the left flank, it would have been a lot worse than a two-point deficit for English's men at the break.

What did the team manager say to his quite disillusioned crew at half time? "That's unrepeatable," retorted the Tipperary boss. "The quality of our play was not up to standard."

Tipperary's big struggle to gain parity continued at the other end but Benny Dunne missed a goal chance before Eoin Kelly put the sides level for a fifth time with a pointed free.

Tommy Dunne was forgiven for a subdued contribution when he placed Brian O'Meara for Tipperary's lead to be restored eight minutes into he second half. The presure mounted for the Antrim players as legs became a little heavier in the last quarter. Eugene O'Neill, a late substitute for O'Leary, truly closed the door on the Ulster champions with a great goal following a good pass from John Carroll.

"That goal knocked the wind out of our sails," said Dinny Cahill, the Antrim manager.

Antrim's decline was hastened by the sending off of midfielder Conor Cunning for a second bookable offence late in the game.

Cahill believes his team can compete with "any southern team". However, He admitted: "We found it difficult to cope when Tipperary went up a gear in the second half.

"I am very pleased with the performance, we have many under 19-year-olds in the squad so, it can only get better. We will improve with experience and there is only one way to gain in experience and that is to have more matches against the top teams."

Tipperary's top scorer, Eoin Kelly, led by example with impecable free-taking but the player that warmed the hearts of most Tipperary supporters was left wing back Paul Kelly.

The Mullinahone man was in such startling form that it became surprising to see Antrim persist down the left flank with such regularity.

English regarded Paul Kelly's display as typical of the manner in which "we answered the questions in the second half. We were second to the ball in many areas but after half-time we picked it up and we can only hope now for an improvement. On our form today we would have no chance against the likes of Kilkenny but we will turn up."

English was not surprised by Antrims skills: "We watched the Ulster final and knew what to expect," he said.

TIPPERARY: 1 B Cummins; 2 T Costelloe, 3 P Maher, 4 P Ormond; 5 E Corcoran, 6 D Kennedy, 7 P Kelly; 11 C Gleeson, 9 N Morris; 15 M O'Leary, 14 J Carroll, 10 B Dunne; 13 E Kelly, 8 T Dunne, 12 B O'Meara. Subs: E Enright for Kennedy (36 mins), M Ryan for Costelloe (half time), E O'Neill for O'Leary (61 mins), L Corbett for N Morris (66 mins). Booked: P Ormond.

ANTRIM: 1 D Quinn, 2 M Kettle, 3 K Kelly, 4 J Campbell; 5 M McCambridge, 6 K McKeegan, 7 K Herron; 8 C Cunning, 9 J Connolly; 10 L Watson, 11 C McGuckian, 12 L Richmond; 13 B McFall, 14 P Richmond, 15 G O'Kane. Subs: A Delargy for L Richmond (47 mins), J Boyle for Connolly (51 mins), S Delargy for McFall (65 mins). Booked: L Watson, M McCambridge. Red card: C Cunning 2 (two yellow)