Antrim had a big victory in Belfast on Sunday afternoon after they gave Carlow a thumping at Corrigan Park for their first win of the season.
The opening half lived up to the battle that these two have often shown in recent contests.
Antrim looked lively in the opening half and Seaan Elliot’s opening strike gave the hosts an early lead. Moments later Jon Nolan had the first goal chance of the affair but Cormac McFadden was equal to the forward’s thunderous strike.
The game was a real scrap with neither side being able to keep control of the ball for long, whether it be sloppy stick passing or a loose hand pass. Martin Kavanagh kept Carlow firmly in the game with a few terrific scores from frees although Elliot proved his equal, tallying four points for Antrim in the first half.
Conor Johnston and Paul Boyle both managed terrific scores from play which lifted the home crowd and the Saffrons found themselves with a four-point advantage on the half hour mark.
Carlow managed to end the half the stronger with a great free from Kevin McDonald ending the first period with just a single point deficit to the Leinster men.
Antrim’s Conor Johnston under pressure from Fiachra Fitzpatrick and Kevin McDonald of Carlow
The Dunloy men Elliot and Molloy started off with two big scores for Antrim following the restart as they extend their lead to three points inside the opening four minutes of the second half.
Elliot’s third free of the half gave the hosts a four-score lead but that was instantly cut to within three after a 65’ from Martin Kavanagh got the away sides first score of the second half.
Ruairi Donaghy looked to have the opening goal but his strike just glanced the crossbar and over for a point and Antrim looked to be on closing in on their first victory of the year.
Keelan Molloy’s monstrous effort from inside his on 30-yard line, gave the Corrigan Park crowd another roar in relief as Antrim began to pull away from their opposition.
The hosts went from strength to strength and scores from Conal Cunning, James McNaughton and Elliot ensured the victory for the Saffrons.
Davy Fitzgerald’s side earned their first victory of the Division 1B campaign when Stephen Rooney and Morgan Nelson struck first ever league points in the closing stages in Belfast, keeping their hopes of avoiding relegation truly alive.
Antrim: Cormac McFadden; Stephen Rooney 0-01, Niall O’Conner 0-01, Paddy Burke; Eoin McFerran, Joe Maskey, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy 0-03; Paul Boyle 0-01, Conor Johnston 0-01, Ruairi Donaghy 0-01; Seaan Elliot 0-08 (5f, 1 65’), James McNaughton 0-02, Conal Cunning 0-06.
Subs: Scott Walsh on for Ein McFerran (51’), Eoin O’Neill on for Paul Boyle (59’), Joseph McLaughlin on for Ruairi Donaghy (63’), Morgan Nelson 0-01 on for Conor Johnston (69’), Ryan McNulty on for Gerard Walsh (71’)
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Niall Bolger, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Paidi O’Shea; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Paddy Boland; Chris Nolan, Donagh Murphy, Jon Nolan 0-01; Jack Treacy 0-01, John Michael Nolan 0-01, Martin Kavanagh 0-05 (4fs, 1 65′)
Subs: Ted Joyce on for John Michael Nolan (43’), Richard Coady on for Paddy Boland (59’), Kevin Kavanagh on for Donagh Murphy (59’), Eric English on for Paidi O’Shea (67’)
Referee: Shane Hynes
In Division 2, Westmeath raised three green flags on their wau to a 3-22 top 0-22 win over London in Ruislip. in the second tier’s only othe fixture, Meath held off Down by two points at St Loman’s on a scoreline of 1-20 to 1-18.