JOHNNY KELLY could breathe again after Offaly scraped past 14-man Antrim to survive in the Leinster SHC.
Saffron defender Niall O’Connor was sent off after just EIGHT minutes for an apparent stamp on Charlie Mitchell, but Davy Fitzgerald’s men refused to fold in the do or die clash at O’Connor Park.
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Offaly led 2-9 to 0-11 at the break thanks to Brian Duignan’s goal and Dan Ravenhill’s penalty.
But the hosts failed to kick on after the restart despite strong wind advantage, as James McNaughton’s goal got Antrim back within a point before Killian Sampson’s green flag edged Kelly’s men over the line.
Offaly fell out of the Leinster championship in 2018, and slid into the Christy Ring Cup before returning to the top tier this summer.
And relieved Kelly says staying with the big boys was huge, despite doing things the hard way to send Antrim down.
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He said: “Yeah, that’s one word. Breathing again! Happy to be up in Leinster again. That’s all that mattered today.
“It’s so important that we learn from this and go forward, because it’s not so much a hurling battle, it’s a psychological warfare here with these guys.
“They’ve been down for so long, and been so far down that to get back up to this level and stay at this level – it’s a huge ask, mentally, for these lads to believe that they’re good enough.
“That’s where we really need to focus on – our hurling ability at times is as good as what’s around.
“Probably not as fast as the top teams, or as quick as the Kilkennys and the Tipperarys of this world, but they can get there.
“Just to come through that battle and add a psychological layer to next year will hopefully help it.”
Charlie Mitchell starred for the hosts, and covered every blade of grass to keep them in the game.
Sampson’s second half goal was massive along with Donal Shirley’s performance at centre-back.
McNaughton fired 1-8 for the visitors and Gerard Walsh led the charge from midfield, but it was not enough to survive.
The visitors were hit with two massive early blows when Duignan hit the net after 90 seconds and O’Connor was sent off after seven minutes.
McNaughton’s frees kept them in the game with the strong wind, but Offaly won a penalty when Conor Boyd fouled Mitchell and Ravenhill made no mistake from the spot.
Keelan Molloy’s double before McNaughton’s free squared the game again, but a late flurry of 0-4 from Donal Shirley, Ravenhill, Duignan and Mitchell steered the hosts 2-9 to 0-11 clear.
But Offaly failed to pull away when they should have. Duingan’s free on 43 minutes put them six ahead, but they would not score for the next 20.
Antrim grew with every ball, and nearly hit the net when Eoghan Campbell raced through on goal but was foiled by Colin Spain as McNaughton kept chipping away at the scoreboard.
Offaly struggled to stem the tide as Mitchell ended their long wait for a score, but McNaughton rifled home when Ben Conneely and Ciaran Burke failed to clear to make it 2-14 to 1-16.
Just a point behind, Stephen Rooney blocked Duignan for a certain goal – but Antrim’s dream comeback was dashed in the next attack when Sampson made no mistake after Eoghan Cahill’s slick pass.
Offaly’s revival continues, and building on their 2024 All-Ireland under-20 title will be crucial next summer if they want to survive in the province all over again.
Antrim go into the unknown in a cut-throat Joe McDonagh Cup, as their three-year stay at the top table ends in disaster with five losses and a scoring difference of -77.
OFFALY 3-15
ANTRIM 1-16
OFFALY: M Troy; B Conneely, C Burke, S Bourke; R Ravenhill, D Shirley 0-2, J Sampson; C King, C Spain; K Sampson 1-0, D Bourke 0-1, O Kelly; D Ravenhill 1-2, 1pen, C Mitchell 0-3, B Duignan 1-7, 7f.
Subs: J Clancy for D Ravenhill HT; E Cahill for J Sampson 64
ANTRIM: R Elliott; S Rooney, P Burke 0-1, N O’Connor; C Bohill, J Maskey, C Boyd; G Walsh 0-2, E Campbell; R McCambridge 0-1, N Elliott 0-1, S Walsh 0-1; J McNaughton 1-8, 7f, E O’Neill, K Molloy 0-2.
Subs: C McKeown for McCambridge 55mins
REFEREE: M Kennedy (Tipperary)
