Antrim stay in the hunt

Antrim 3-19 Kerry 4-14:ANTRIM KEPT themselves in the promotion hunt when edging past Kerry at Casement Park yesterday.

The visitors took a shock lead after less than a minute when Paddy Flaherty goaled. However, the game then began to script, with Antrim adding 2-5 without reply in a 10-minute spell.

A goal from Gary O’Brien meant the Munster men trailed by just three at the break, 2-10 to 2-7.

Antrim looked safe when Joey Scullion blasted home their third goal but Jason Casey and Michael Conway added goals for Kerry.

ANTRIM: C O’Connell; K McGourty, C Donnelly, S Delargy; C Herron (0-1), A Graffin, K McKeegan; B Herron (0-4), E McCloskey; K Stewart (0-9, six frees, one 65), N McManus (1-1), P Doherty (0-2), S McNaughton (0-1); K Kelly (1-0), PJ OConnell (0-1). Subs: N McAuley for K McGourty (blood), J Scullion (1-0) for PJ OConnell, M Herron for K Kelly, M Kettle for C Herron, S McCrory for S McNaughton.

KERRY: J Healy; M Hanafin, A Healy, E Fitzgerald; J Godley (0-1), T Murnane, J Casey (1-1); J Griffin (0-1), J Fitzgerald (0-1); C Harris (0-1), S Brick (0-8, four frees, one 65), B Brick; M Conway (1-0), G OBrien (1-0), P Flaherty (1-1). Sub: R Kenny for P Flaherty.

Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).