Offaly 2-17 Antrim 2-14: Dare one say it? It might not be a simple shoo-in for all the Dunloy players at present holding themselves in reserve for the St Patrick's Day club final to regain their places on the Antrim team after this exhilarating battle at Casement Park yesterday.
If ever there was a moral victory Antrim conjured it with a second-half performance that had Offaly on the rack and gave substance to the claims of coach Dinny Cahill.
"Ever since coming up here to coach them, I have discovered that an Antrim team playing to full potential would be a match for any team in the country," said the Tipperary native at the finish.
The second half, which Antrim started more in hope than in confidence, having trailed by 2-9 to 0-6 at the half-time whistle, was marked by bracing doses of hurling skills from the home side.
Antrim shifted up several gears, seemingly intent on putting behind them a crass first-half display that produced nine wides, mostly from scoring positions. Impressive does not begin to describe the authority they asserted in the second session.
Offaly manager Mike McNamara was a little annoyed with his team's loss of control but was able to find positives.
"We're happy we had a tough match. The way we reacted to the pressure in the second half was not unusual. It doesn't seem to be in their (Offaly's) nature to mercilessly put a team away like Cork or Tipperary after having such a big lead at half-time."
Offaly wing back Colm Cassidy was voted man of the match, yet Antrim had many candidates for the honour, not least defenders Michael McCambridge, Karl McKeegan and the Herron brothers.
The only fault in the home defence was their frequent failure to put in lengthy clearances after denying marksmen of the calibre of the Hanniffys, Rory and Gary, Brian Carroll and Richie McRedmond.
At the other end, Cassidy held the Offaly defence together and goalkeeper Brian Mullins brought off the save of the match from Antrim hurler of the year Brian McFall.
Antrim began shooting wides early on and didn't score until the 15th minute, by which time Offaly had 1-5 on the board. Neville Coughlan and Damien Murray posted great first-half goals to inspire a nine-point interval lead.
But then came the resurgence. McFall and Aidan Delargy, off a terrific Michael Magill delivery, supplied the goals and suddenly the deficit was reduced to three points in the 32nd minute of the second half before a Delargy point reduced it further.
A hectic finish ensued, but Offaly substitute Michael Cordial restored the three-point gap.
OFFALY: B Mullins; D Franks, G Oakley, B Teehan; J Brady, N Claffey, C Cassidy; N Mannion, B Murphy (0-2); B Carroll (0-2), R Hanniffy (0-4, one free), N Coughlan (1-0); D Murray (1-1), G Hanniffy (0-3), R McRedmond (0-2). Subs: M Cordial (0-2) for Mannion (17 mins); D Hayden (0-1) for B Carroll (45 mins); K Brady for J Brady (50 mins); C Gath for McRichmond (61 mins); M O'Hara for Coughlan (65 mins).
ANTRIM: D Quinn; G Cunningham, M McCambridge, A Ó Cairealláin; B Herron, K McKeegan, C Herron (0-2 both 65s); N Reynolds (0-1), M Magill; M Herron (0-3), M Scullion, L Watson (0-2 one free); S Kelly (0-2), A Delargy (1-2), B McFall (1-1, point free). Sub: C Connolly (0-1) for Scullion (41 mins).
Referee: E Morris (Dublin).
