Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final: Antrim 3-11 London 2-10 RELIEF was the overriding emotion for Antrim at Corrigan Park on Sunday as they avoided a shock against London to reach the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup. Going into the game, the Saffrons were firm favourites, but it was far from plain sailing as London were right in the mix until Aghagllon clubman Ruairi McCann needed his second goal of the day deep into added time to finally break The Exiles' resistance. "We were stretched to the limit to get a result there and I was glad to hear the final whistle," said a thankful Antrim manager, Andy McEntee.
"The way they (London) play, you don't want to be playing catch-up as they do defend well and defend deep. Once they got the (early) four-point lead, our boys maybe got a bit tight and we had nine wides in the first half. "But they stuck at it and big Ruairi does his usual stuff.
We got goals and some of the lads really pushed on." London already had 1-1 on the board as a move through the hands culminated in Michael Byrne saving from Ruairi Rafferty, but Stephen Dornan finished the rebound. Joshua Obahor added a point before the hosts finally got into it as a break from Marc Jordan saw him feed Ryan McQuillan and his pass inside was palmed home by Aghagallon's Ruairi McCann.
After an exchange of scores, London lost Cahir Healy to a back card on 26 minutes for a foot trip, but Antrim didn't quite take full advantage as although they edged ahead with points from Ni.
