All Ireland Final Sunday got off to an exciting start as Antrim claimed their first ever Joe McDonagh Cup with a deserved 0-22 to 1-17 win over Kerry.
Kerry kept within touching distance into the final seconds but it was Antrim's day, with manager Darren Gleeson's joy upon the final whistle clear for all to see.
That has to be a black card 😅 #hurling #JoeMcDonaghCup #Antrim pic.twitter.com/oXBew3VoO3
— Anthony Beades (@antobeades) December 13, 2020
Antrim edged the contest throughout, despite not being at their best. A mistake around the 20 minute mark left Kerry's Mickey Boyle clean through to score the only goal of the game.
Kerry were in front shortly after the goal, but they will regret a few too many wides in both halves that wasted their opportunity to maintain the lead.
There's brilliant sunshine at Croke Park. Brilliant unless you're an @AontroimGAA full-back. Here's another look at that @Kerry_Official
goal. Watch highlights of all today's action on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on @rte2. pic.twitter.com/l1CQj2Sqh3— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) December 13, 2020
Antrim were denied a goal themselves in the first half when a brilliant save by John O'Halloran on the goal line, and Kerry went into the half-time break with a one point lead.
But in the opening period of the second half Antrim began to build momentum, typified by a superb point by Neil McManus inside the right hand touchline that opened up a four point lead and they never looked back from there.
Gleeson and his team can look forward to a place in next year's Leinster Championship where they might fancy their chances of making a mark.
But today they will focus on celebrating a huge victory in a sunny Croke Park that their supporters at home will no doubt have enjoyed.
Conor McCann gets his hands on the Joe McDonagh Cup. pic.twitter.com/5mKaujSKTA
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) December 13, 2020
Images from Sportsfile
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