Joe McDonagh Cup

Darren Gleeson's men hang on to win by the narrowest of margins in a high-scoring decider at Croke Park.

Jordan Conway plunders a vital goal for Kerry midway through the second half. The gap is down to five points. Antrim 4-18 Kerry 2-18 Ciaran Clarke struck for the first goal of the decider while further efforts from James McNaughton and Seaan Elliott had Antrim in command. Goal! Antrim 4-18 Kerry 3-18 Antrim 4-18 Kerry 3-19

ANTRIM have been crowned 2021 Joe McDonagh Cup champions following a thrilling final in Croke Park.The Ulster county were well in command throughout,

Kerry boss Molumphy said: "At the moment I'm just proud. I'm definitely proud at the moment. Gleeson said: "I'm a bit numb right now because we were so far ahead. Kerry refused to throw in the towel though and even with 14 men were able to reduce it to a three-point game entering stoppage time. Antrim responded with goals from Cunning and Clarke, the latter a penalty conversion in the 60th minute after a foul on Neil McManus. It's a third final failure in a row for luckless Kerry and a repeat of the 2020 decider which they also lost narrowly to Antrim.

Antrim hung on beat Kerry 5-22 to 4-24 in the Joe McDonagh Cup final after the Saffrons had led by 11 points. Goals by Ciaran Clarke, James McNaughton and ...

However, there was only a puck of the ball between the sides again in the 68th minute after points by substitute Maurice O'Connor and Michael Leane. However, the introduction of Jordan Conway, which had happened late in the first half, began to bear fruit for the Kingdom as he fired in two goals in four minutes to suddenly leave only three between the teams with 16 minutes of normal time left. With the Saffrons helped by a breeze in the second period, Cunning picked up a breaking ball to ram in Antrim's four goal on 46 minutes as their lead was increased to 4-16 to 1-14.

Kerry have lost the Joe McDonagh Cup Final for a third successive season.The Kingdom were beaten by in Croke Park by 5-22 to 4-24.Antrim had the opening ...

The gap was 10 at the midway point of the half; 2-7 to 0-3. Again Kerry point, again Antrim followed that with a point of their own. The Antrim lead at the break was 3-14 to 1-10. Michael Leane then reduced the gap to 3 but Antrim responded immediately with a point of their own. A Padraig Boyle point then made it a two point game. The Kingdom had 2 of the next 3 points to close the gap to 7.

JOE McDONAGH CUP FINAL. Kerry 4-24. Antrim 5-22. Just when you think you've seen it all, just when you think you know what way the wind is both literally ...

and then again the game seemed to turn following Antirm’s fifth goal from the penalty spot by Ciarán Clarke which was accompanied by a black card for Paudie O’Connor. Again Mackessy was vital for the green and goal earning a penalty for Boyle to slam home with trademark venom. The Saffrons hanging on just about and following an Eoin O’Neill point looked home and hosed. Jordan Conway, meanwhile, continued to grab the game by the scruff of the neck shooting two points in quick succession on 38 and 39 minutes. Not that the Kingdom were having any of it. The devastation they felt at the full-time whistle at losing out by just a point to Antrim will stay with them for some time. 1-10 to 3-14 in Antrim’s favour at the break. Suddenly Kerry were just three behind – 3-18 to 4-18 – and just two following yet another Boyle free. The pass for the opening goal by Joe Maskey was almost as good as Clarke’s finish, which left Louis Dee with no chance to stop it. There were times in the first half when it felt to it felt like Antrim could cut the Kingdom asunder, even playing against the breeze. To come back from twelve points down at one stage in the first half, showed remarkable character, remarkable courage, remarkable composure. Indeed, the Glensmen looked a class apart in those times.

Goal hungry Antrim hit the net five times at Croke Park and ultimately needed every one of those strikes to overcome Kerry in a thrilling Joe McDonagh Cup ...

Between the 24th and 33rd minutes they outscored Antrim by 1-3 to 0-1, Padraig Boyle hitting the net from a penalty that was won by Fionan Mackessy, to bring the gap back to a more manageable seven points. The second half was a thrill-a-minute ride, Antrim adding two more goals through Cunning in the 41st minute and Clarke in the 60th and Kerry responding with 2-2 from substitute Jordan Conway and that late, late Boyle major. Clarke danced infield from the right beyond a couple of Kerry defenders after being played in by Joe Maskey and slammed the ball to the net. Four Cunning points in a row, and another from Keelan Molloy, left 11 points between them - Antrim would stretch the gap to 12 after 25 minutes - and it looked at that early stage like the game might already be beyond Kerry. Padraig Boyle was terrific for Kerry and his second goal right at the end of second-half stoppage time left just a point in it. Goal hungry Antrim hit the net five times at Croke Park and ultimately needed every one of those strikes to overcome Kerry in a thrilling Joe McDonagh Cup final, securing their MacCarthy Cup status for 2023.