NHL Division One B/Kilkenny 0-12 Antrim 1-7: Antrim went close to taking another major scalp in the National Hurling League at Nowlan Park yesterday before champions Kilkenny booked their place in the quarter-finals with a somewhat lucky victory.

Luck was on the side of the home team in the 54th minute when they were defending a 0-8 to 0-5 lead. Patrick Richmond raced clean through on goal but his sizzling shot from 14 yards hit the right upright.

"Had we scored a goal at that stage it could have changed the run of the game," said Antrim boss Jim McKernan afterwards.

During the seven minutes after that let-off, the Cats enjoyed a purple patch and hit unanswered points per Eoin Larkin, Willie O'Dwyer, Larkin again and Michael Rice to establish a comfortable 0-12 to 0-6 lead.

Determined Antrim didn't give in. Centre back Karl McKeegan pulled back a point from a free before impressive substitute Joey Scullion bagged a great goal two minutes from the end.

"It wasn't a good performance from us, but the result was important," admitted Kilkenny manager Brian Cody. "We are happy to be in the quarter-finals. It wasn't an easy day for hurling, and a win was all we wanted."

KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, S Maher; J Ryall, J Tennyson, T Walsh; B Barry (0-1, free), M Fennelly (0-1); M Rice (0-1), D Lyng, E Larkin (0-4, three frees); E Reid (0-2), M Comerford (0-1), E Brennan (0-1). Subs: E McCormack for Brennan (53 mins), W O'Dwyer (0-1) for Lyng (53 mins), P Cleere for Barry (66 mins).

ANTRIM: D Quinn; B McAuley, M McCambridge, G Cunningham; M Molloy, K McKeegan (0-2, frees), J Campbell (0-1); C Herron, C Cunning; M Herron (0-1), G Bell, B Delargy; J McIntosh (0-2, one free), P Richmond, B McFall. Subs: B Quinn for G Bell (48 mins), J Scullion (1-1) for Delargy (53 mins), M Scullion for McFall (64 mins), C Hamill for McIntosh (64 mins).

Referee: A Mac Suibhne (Dublin).