ST ANTHONY'S men belatedly opened their 2018 season last Sunday as they took on Tir Chonaill Gaels at Kingsmeadow in the McArdle Cup, writes Timmy Birchall.

With the previous week’s game against St Claret’s having fallen victim to the weather, Reading-based St Anthony’s were keen to make up for last time and managed to establish a two-point lead within the first 10 minutes thanks to two points from Michael McGrath.

However, Tir Chonaill Gaels gave an early indication that this wasn’t to be an easy day for Anthony’s, scoring 1-2 without reply and also rattling a shot off the crossbar which could easily have ended up in the back of the net.

Further St Anthony’s points from Liam McGovern and Mark Kirwan cancelled out two Tir Chonaill points from Kieran Cunningham, which meant St Anthony’s went in trailing by four points at the break.

It proved to be more of the same after the restart with Tir Chonaill Gaels stamping their authority on the game with an early second-half goal putting them into a commanding lead they would never give up.

St Anthony’s made a number of changes as legs began to tire and, although the likes of McGrath continued to tag on points and Liam Brennan and Enda McBrien put in sterling efforts in the back line, it was the visitors from West London who ran out eventual winners on a scoreline of 2-13 to 0-10.

St Anthony’s are next in action this Saturday as they take on Wandsworth Gaels in Kingsmeadow (6.00pm).