Hurling League: Antrim win to retain Division 1B status

Antrim recovered from a five-point deficit to beat Carlow 0-15 to 0-11 in their Hurling League Division 1B relegation play-off at Navan on Sunday.

Carlow took advantage of a significant wind advantage to build up a 0-8 to 0-4 half-time lead, with the help of a run of five unanswered points.

They extended that advantage but Antrim scored nine without reply to win.

Neil McManus top-scored with eight points while Shane McNaughton was the pick of the Saffrons' players.

Antrim went into the game as favourites, having already beaten Carlow this season, but trailed at the interval.

McManus scored all of Kevin Ryan's side's first-half points but was wide with two straightforward free attempts early in the second half.

The Ulster county eventually found their rhythm and Shea Casey was unlucky not score a goal as Nicky Roberts produced a fine save.

Antrim: R McGarry; C McKinley, A Graffin, M McFadden; J McGreevy, N McAuley, P Shiels; M Donnelly, T McCloskey; S Beatty, N McManus, E McCloskey; S McAfee, C Carson, S McNaughton. Subs: J O'Mullan, B McFall, O McFadden, K McKernan, R McCloskey, S Casey, D McClean, D Hamill, K McShane, C Clarke