Late Antrim surge seals win against Wexford

Antrim bounced back from their opening defeat against Kilkenny with a late win against Wexford

A storming finish saw Antrim grab a magnificent 2-22 to 2-20 victory over Wexford at Corrigan Park on Saturday to get their Leinster Hurling Championship campaign firmly back on track.

Darren Gleeson's side had to come through adversity at times with a couple of big calls going against them and despite seven points in arrears early in the second half they still refused to wilt.

Goals from Niall McKenna and Seaan Elliott saw them level before Gerard Walsh and Conal Cunning scored the winning points.

The lead see-sawed for most of the opening half as Lee Chin pointed early for Wexford and Antrim replied through James McNaughton and Gerard Walsh.

This would set the tone as the lead changed seven times with Chin in fine form, aided by two from Cian Byrne and Cathal Dunbar getting on the board.

Conal Cunning got into a groove from frees for Antrim, aided by Walsh and Seaan Elliott as the Saffrons led 0-8 to 0-7.

Then came a huge moment on 27 minutes as a Chin free came back off the post and referee Colm Lyons spotted a pull on Conor McDonald, awarding Wexford a penalty to the fury of the hosts, that Chin buried.

Chin scored two goals for Wexford, but it wasn't enough for victory after Antrim's late fightback

Antrim responded well to get to within one in stoppage time, but they were hit by a second goal and there was no debate about this one.

Chin plucked Mark Fanning's long delivery from the sky, burst through and beat Ryan Elliott to help his team into a 2-9 to 0-12 lead at the break.

Wexford stretched that lead to seven early in the second period with Rory O'Connor and Liam Og McGovern complimenting Chin, but Antrim steadied and fought back with the next five points as brothers Seaan and Nigel Elliott assisted Cunning and McNaughton.

Wexford hit back with two of their own before Antrim thought they had grabbed a vital goal on 55 minutes, only to see it ruled out for a square ball.

But they continued to graft and five minutes later they were right back in it as McNaughton made a superb run and played it inside to McKenna, who finished to level.

Although Cian Byrne hit his fourth of the day and Conor McDonald his second straight after, Antrim were in front seven minutes from time as Aodhan O'Brien broke the ball to McNaughton, who again turned provider, this time for Seaan Elliott to bury.

Chin took his tally for the day to 2-11 from a free to tie it up, but Antrim got what they deserved and more as Gerard Walsh landed a sideline that was worthy of a winner and Cunning made sure of the victory.