Christy Ring Cup final/Antrim 5-13 Carlow 1-07 : Antrim demolished Carlow in what turned into a total mismatch as they went on to secure an 18-point victory at Croke Park yesterday.
Antrim manager Jim McKernan was delighted to see his charges answer his call for silverware, as they still await their Ulster final clash with New York, but he was the first to admit that he did not expect such an easy passage.
"I didn't expect to win so easily, but I suppose the game was over as a contest by the end of the opening quarter," said McKernan. "We asked the lads for a performance in this one and that is what we got. The victory and the Christy Ring Cup will be good for Antrim hurling."
Carlow went into this game on the back of an impressive semi-final victory over Down but they froze on the big occasion.
"Really we needed a good start to settle the side against a quality hurling team like Antrim. We conceded the early scores leaving us chasing the game," said Carlow manager Eoin Garvey.
Antrim had cruised into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead by the 13th minute and shortly afterwards Joey Scullion got the game's opening goal.
A long Johnny McIntosh effort deceived goalkeeper Frank Foley for his side's second goal, but worse was to follow as Kieran Kelly added the third goal after 17 minutes.
Carlow had to wait until the 27th minute for their opening score, a Damian Roberts point, but the Ulster side led by 3-7 to 0-2 at the interval.
By the 52nd minute, Carlow had reduced the deficit to 3-8 to 0-6 but there was to be no denying the Antrim dominance.
McIntosh scored his second goal on 56 minutes and Antrim moved into a 4-11 to 0-7 lead when a crossfield ball from Malachy Molloy picked out Brian McFall, who shot a low drive to the net.
Carlow managed a late consolation goal when goalkeeper Frank Foley went up the field to finish a free to the net.
ANTRIM: D Quinn; B McAuley, J McKeague, J Campbell; M Molloy (0-2, one free, one 65), K McKeegan, C Herron; C Cunning, M Scullion; J Scullion (1-0), K Kelly (1-1), M Dallas; J McIntosh (2-4, four frees), P Richmond (0-2), B McFall (1-2). Subs: D McKillop for Scullion (35 mins), P McGill (0-1) for Cunning (53 mins), B Delargy (0-1) for Scullion (61 mins), J McKernan for Campbell (65 mins).
CARLOW: F Foley (1-0, free); E Nolan, T Doyle, A Gaule; E Coady, S Kavanagh, L Kenny; C Hughes, D Roberts (0-1); P Coady (0-3, frees), D Murphy, A Brennan; P Kehoe, R Foley (0-2), S McMahon (0-1). Subs: D Shaw for Kenny (18 mins), M Keating for Brennan (37 mins), S McMahon for Kehoe (47 mins), J Waters for Hughes (51 mins).
Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).
