McIntosh strikes twice to make Antrim's day

A double strike by Johnny McIntosh inside three minutes late in yesterday's Division 1A clash at Casement Park earned Antrim …

A double strike by Johnny McIntosh inside three minutes late in yesterday's Division 1A clash at Casement Park earned Antrim a surprise win over Offaly.

Yet, it was a deserved victory for a side that battled bravely throughout and hit back twice after Offaly goals against the run of play. McIntosh had been extremely quiet in the right corner of the attack until his double strike.

Antrim were missing the Dunloy contingent preparing for their AIB All-Ireland club semi-final, while members of Seir Kieran and Birr, who have their county final in a few weeks, were Offaly absentees.

Two pointed frees in the opening two minutes by young hotshot Damian Murray got Offaly, backed by the breeze, off to a good start but they didn't score again until the 26th minute, by which time Antrim had gone into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Points by Cillian Farrell and Colm Cassidy and a snap goal by Brendan Murphy, from a neat John Troy flick, put the visitors 1-4 to 0-5 up in the 31st minute.

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Offaly led 1-6 to 0-7 at the break but Antrim dominated after the interval, even though they fired nine second half wides.

Half-time substitute Michael Duignan ghosted inside to hit Offaly's second goal with nine minutes of ordinary time left. Then as McIntosh was about to be substituted he saved the day for the home side.

The Glenariffe man fired a rocket from 20 metres to the Offaly net after being set up by Declan McKillop in the 65th minute and three minutes later he cracked in the killer goal.

ANTRIM: DD Quinn; E O'Hara, C McAllister, Ciaran McCambridge; C Herron, K Kelly, E Graham; M Kettle, Conor McCambridge (0-5, all frees); R McNaughton, J Connolly (0-4), C Hamill; J McIntosh (2-1), D McKillop, P Graham (0-1). Subs: A Watt (0-1) for Hamill (inj, 20 mins).

OFFALY: S Byrne; R Devery, J Ryan, M O'Hara; W Comerford, J Brady, M Hand; C Cassidy (0-1), G Oakley; D Murray (0-5, all frees), A Hanrahan, B Murphy (1-0); C Farrell (0-1), J Troy (0-2, one free), C Gath. Subs: M Duignan (1-0) for Cassidy (inj, half-time); B Teehan for Gath (54 mins); D Kelly for Farrell (55 mins).

Referee: A MacSuibhne (Dublin).