Antrim 3-18 Wexford 2-15:AFTER SOAKING up an early Wexford charge, Antrim settled at Casement Park to get their campaign off to a great start.

The scores were level twice over the opening five minutes before Wexford slipped into gear. Midfielder Eoin Quigley fired home a goal on seven minutes and by the 12th they were 1-4 to 0-2 ahead.

Antrim manager Jerry Wallace had a quiet word during an injury break with his midfield men and it seemed to do the trick and when Shane McNaughton ran in to find the Wexford net the home side led 1-6 to 1-4 after 19 minutes.

Kevin Sheeran went clear for another Antrim goal on 20 minutes and 14 minutes later Karl Stewart rocketed in a third to leave it 3-9 to 1-7 at the break.

Following Sheeran’s goal, Wexford won a dubious penalty but Antrim keeper Chris O’Connell brought off a marvellous save.

Wexford had added impetus after the break and they closed the gap to four points. However, with Cormac Donnelly superb and combining well with Neal McAuley, chances were limited for the Wexford attack, although they did miss a couple of goal chances.

They added only three points in the last 18 minutes as Antrim got seven. The latter were also missing the Loughgiel players who are in next month’s club hurling final.

ANTRIM: C O’Connell; A Graffin, C Donnelly, K McGourty; N McAuley (0-1), N McManus (0-2, frees), S McCrory; K Stewart (1-3), B McFall; S McLaughlin, M Herron (0-2), C McFall; S McNaughton (1-7, 0-6 frees), K Sheerin (1-0), PJ O’Connell (0-3). Subs: KB McShane for Sheerin (52 mins).

WEXFORD: E Martin; B Kenny, M O’Hanlon, B Kehoe; D Stamp, K Rossiter, C Kenny; E Quigley (2-0), J Leacy; R Kehoe (0-1), D O’Keefe, PJ Nolan (0-1), T O’Leary (0-2), G Sinnott (0-2), G Moore (0-2, frees). Subs: P Morris (0-2, 0-1 free) for R Kehoe (half-time), J Berry (0-2, frees) for Leacy (half-time), R Jacobs (0-2) for Moore (half-time), S Murphy (0-1) for O’Leary (54 mins), J Guiney for O’Keefe (61 mins).

Referee: E Hasson (Derry).