Wexford 1-24 Antrim 2-20
Visitors Antrim went down by the narrowest of margins to 14-man Wexford in their Allianz Hurling League Division 1B clash.
The hosts led 1-12 to 1-09 at half-time, with Paul Shiels scoring a superb 14th minute goal for Antrim and Liam Og McGovern notching Wexford's major.
Despite having captain Tomas Waters dismissed, the Model men surged into an eight-point lead. Antrim responded with 1-06, including a Ciaran Clarke goal, but Harry Kehoe pointed the winner for Wexford.
The story of the first half was one of splendid point-taking and accuracy from the Antrim forwards with Wexford more wayward in their shooting. A magnificent goal from Shiels, who picked up a pinpoint long pass from Neil McManus, had the Saffrons leading 1-03 to 0-05.
However, Wexford's star attacker McGovern found the net in the 28th minute to give his side a two-point buffer (1-09 to 1-07).
The game's next twist came shortly afterwards as Waters received a straight red card for what the referee Cathal McAllister deemed a striking offence. The 14 men did manage to finish the half strongly, ending it three points to the good.
Liam Dunne's charges looked to be firmly in control thanks to a strong start to the second period, pushing 1-21 to 1-13 clear by the 55th minute.
However, Antrim then staged a stunning comeback, inspired by McManus in midfield and an impressive display from second-half substitute Simon McCrory. They scored six unanswered points in a terrific spell between the 56th and 62nd minutes.
The Antrim revival was complete in the 63rd minute when impressive corner-forward Clarke knocked McManus' long delivery into the net and put the Saffrons in front for the first time since the opening half, the visitors leading by 2-19 to 1-21.
In a thrilling finish, Wexford ace attackers McGovern and Jack Guiney replied with points before Antrim defender Aaron Graffin levelled matters for the fourth time in 67th minute, but Wexford substitute Harry Kehoe settled the issue with a well-taken point in the 69th minute, scoring from a pass by the influential McGovern.
WEXFORD: M Fanning; E Moore, T Waters, C Kenny; P Foley, L Chin (0-02), D Redmond (0-01); P Morris (0-01), G Sinnott; I Byrne (0-02), D Waters (0-03), D O'Keeffe (0-02); K Foley, J Guiney (0-09, 0-05f), L Og McGovern (1-03).
Subs: H Kehoe (0-01) for Morris (48 mins), S Tomkins for Sinnott (59), J Kelly for Foley (61), R Kehoe for Byrne (65).
ANTRIM: C O'Connell; R McCambridge, N McAuley, A Graffin (0-01); T McCann, C McKinley (0-01), M Bradley (0-01); N McManus (0-02), C Johnson; P Shiels (1-06, 0-06f), D McKernan (0-02), C McCann (0-01); C Clarke (1-04), PJ O'Connell (0-01), E McCloskey.
Subs: E Campbell for C McCann, M Donnelly for McCloskey, S McCrory for T McCann (all half-time), C Carson (0-01) for McKernan (44 mins), S McAfee for Shiels (68).
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)
