Ryan McQuillan shone as last year's semi-finalists Antrim edged Wexford at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday to remain in the hunt for direct passage to the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup.
The Saffrons face Sligo in a decisive closing Group 2 duel next weekend to determine the table-toppers, with both sides already assured of qualification.
Wexford, meanwhile, must bounce back against Tipperary if they are to have any hope of qualifying as one of the three third-placed teams with the best record.
The purple and gold were always in the hunt in here, but Antrim maintained an advantage from the eleventh minute after defenders Declan Lynch and Joseph Finnegan each pointed to generate a 1-2 to 0-03 lead.
Wexford, despite facing the breeze, settled with points from Darragh Lyons and Páraic Hughes inside three minutes.
But Antrim transformed things by 1-0 to 0-02 in the fourth minute when full-forward Ruairí McCann added to his double goal blast a week earlier against Tipperary when collecting a long delivery and outwitting his marker to shoot to the Clonard-end net.
While Seán Nolan tied matters from a free, Antrim poked holes in Wexford’s apparent containment strategy as Saffron defenders Declan Lynch, Joseph Finnegan, Niall Burns and captain Dermot McAleese had the visitors settling purposefully after eighteen minutes (1-04 to 0-03).
Wexford were struggling to knit anything meaningful together, but closed to 1-06 to 0-7 after 30 minutes with three additions from Seán Nolan (two frees) and one from Kevin O’Grady after full-back Gavin Sheehan burst forward.
However, after a Ryan McQuillan double boosted Antrim’s position after 34 minutes (1-08 to 0-07), Wexford were spared embarrassment when, with the Antrim 'keeper up-field, the Ulstermen turned over a kick-out only for Conor Hand to eventually blast across the face of goal and wide.
That left Antrim enjoying that satisfactory four-point edge at the break.
But Wexford claimed five of the first seven points inside the opening fourteen minutes of the second-half to get themselves into serious contention.
The reliable Seán Nolan together with Mark Rossiter, midfielder Niall Hughes, O’Grady and a second from defender Darragh Lyons whittled the deficit down to 1-10 to 0-12 as a further McQuillan brace just kept Antrim noses in front.
Antrim threatened to pull clear though as Patrick McAleer and goalie Michael Byrne stretched the gap to 1-12 to 0-12 – the latter from a ‘45 after Wexford ‘keeper Will Foley had averted danger when Ruairí McCann kept the ball in play.
McQuillan restored a four point gap from a free after 56 minutes, yet Wexford gave themselves a fighting chance as sub Jack Higgins, Seán Nolan (free) and Páraic Hughes had them within two points 1-14 to 0-15.
But it required a masterful save from Will Foley – on his Senior debut – to prevent Antrim from sinking a potentially fatal blow as Marc Jordan unleashed from a Dominic McEnhill assist.
Wexford full-back Gavin Sheehan also had to thwart Ruairí McCann’s bid to fist to the net moments later after Patrick McBride crossed from the right end-line.
Regardless, with McQuillan embellishing a fine day’s work personally, Antrim held firm despite losing attacker Conor Hand to a black-card in added-time.
Antrim: Michael Byrne (0-01 ‘45); Declan Lynch (0-01), Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Niall Burns (0-01), Joseph Finnegan (0-01), Dermot McAleese (0-01); Patrick McAleer (0-03), Cathal Hynds (0-01); Conor Hand, Patrick McBride, Ruairí McCann (Creggan); Ryan McQuillan (0-06, 3 frees), Ruairí McCann (1-00), Marc Jordan.
Subs: Dominic McEnhill for McCann (Creggan) (51), James McDonnell for Keenan (67), Colm McLarnon for McCann (70+4).
Wexford: Will Foley; Dylan Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O’Connor; Darragh Lyons (0-02), Eoin Porter, Glen Malone; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes (0-01); Mark Rossiter (0-01), Páraic Hughes (0-02), Conor Carty; Seán Nolan (0-06, 4 frees), Kevin O’Grady (0-02), Eoghan Nolan.
Subs: Jack Higgins (0-01) for Carty (HT), Conor Kinsella for E. Nolan (45), Graham Staples for Lyons (60), Ben Brosnan (0-02, 1 free) for O’Grady (68), Jonathan Bealin for S. Nolan (69).
Referee: David Murnane (Cork).
