Joe McDonagh Hurling Final – Antrim v Kerry – Preview, Stats, and Starting Teams
Antrim lost one game (to Kerry) in the ‘round robin’ – they had already quailed for the final by then.
Kerry lost two games (to Down and Offaly) but clinched a place in the final on scoring difference after finishing on six points alongside Carlow and Offaly.
The winners will play Cork in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter- final; the losers will play Wexford.
Antrim are guaranteed a place in the Leinster championship next year if they win on Saturday. If Kerry win, they will face a play-off with Tipperary to decide who plays in the Munster championship
ANTRIM v KERRY
They meet in the Joe McDonagh Cup for the second time in three seasons, with Antrim having won in 2020 (0-22 to 1-17). Kerry also lost last year’s final to Westmeath (2-28 to 1-24).
HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL – ANTRIM
Antrim 3-22 Offaly 2-24 Antrim 6-22 Down 3-16 Antrim 2-22 Carlow 1-22 Antrim 7-29 Meath 3-14 Kerry 0-29 Antrim 2-21
Top Scorers – ANTRIM
Conal Cunning……………..1-31 (0-25 frees, 0-1 ‘65’) Conor Johnson……………….3-4
Ciarán Clarke……………….2-6 (1-0 pen)
Seán Elliot…………………….2-5 (0-1 s/l)
HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL – KERRY
Down 1-19 Kerry 0-18 Kerry 3-21 Carlow 0-15 Kerry 6-25 Meath 0-13 Offaly 4-23 Kerry 2-28 Kerry 0-29 Antrim 2-21
Top Scorers – KERRY
Pádraig Boyle……………1-53(0-41 frees, 0-5 ‘65s’) Shane Conway…………-3-22(0-12 frees, 0-1 s/l) Maurice O’Connor……..4-0
Fionán Mackessy………..0-12
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