Antrim's hurlers must face Wexford this weekend to secure Liam McCarthy Cup status after an 18-point loss to Offaly in Saturday's relegation semi-final at Parnell Park.

October's Special Congress will most likely render Antrim's forthcoming game against the Model men null and void, but both sides must go through the motions of a relegation ‘final' — despite a DRA recommendation that there should be no relegation from the McCarthy Cup next year.

If that is the case, both Antrim and Wexford will remain in the top flight in 2010, but will nevertheless meet to decide who faces Carlow in a Christy Ring Cup play-off — should Special Congress not back the DRA recommendation.

Wexford lost out to Clare on Saturday to set up a meeting with the Ulster champions, and on current form, Antrim will be the side who will have most interest in October's outcome.

Antrim were outplayed for long periods of Saturday's clash with Offaly. Aside from a 10-second spell in the opening minute of the game, Antrim were playing catch-up to Offaly.

Paddy McGill's opening point was cancelled out seconds later by Kevin Brady's goal from the middle of the park which deceived Ryan McGarry to put Offaly 1-0 to 0-1 ahead.

Antrim levelled through Karl Stewart and Joey Scullion, but that was as good as it got for Antrim who were outscored by 0-9 to 0-1 over the next 14 minutes. By this stage seven different scorers were on the Offaly score-sheet before Stewart stopped the rot with the second if his six points.

Stewart and Michael Herron added further points but Joe Bergin, Brendan Murphy, and man of the match Brian Carroll all split the posts to put Antrim 1-15 to 0-8 ahead at the break.

After the restart, Offaly accounted for eight of the first nine points, despite an Antrim penalty on 37 minutes when Paddy Richmond was fouled in the square by Paul Cleary.

Stewart's effort was saved by Cleary on the Offaly line and it took a further 17 minutes before Richmond got Antrim's next sniff at goal. Johnny Campbell pointed the resultant '65' but it served as temporary respite for Antrim as Carroll resumed the onslaught.

The list of Offaly scorers continued to mount, with Odhran Kealey and James Gorman both getting on the score-sheet, but it was Carroll who remained the biggest threat, ending the game with 12 points.

A disappointing day was topped with Shane McNaughton's sending-off, seconds before Derek Molloy chose to put an Offaly penalty over the bar. CJ McGourty grabbed the last Antrim point of the game — only their fifth of the second half.

Antrim: R McGarry; K McGourty, N McGarry, A Graffin; C Herron, J Campbell (0-1, 65), E McCloskey; M Herron (0-1), K McKeegan; D McKillop, K Stewart (0-6, 2f), J Scullion (0-1); S McNaughton, P Richmond, CJ McGourty (0-1), P McGill (0-1) Subs: D Hamill for S Delargy, CJ McGourty for J Scullion, E McCloskey (0-1) for P McGill, C Donnelly (0-1) for K McKeegan, PJ O'Connell for D McKillop

Offaly: B Mullins; D Franks (0-1), D Kenny, M Verney; P Cleary (0-2f), G Oakley, D Hayden; J Rigney, K Brady (1-2); B Murphy (0-4), C Mahon, D Molloy (0-2, 1f); B Carroll (0-12, 4f, two 65s), J Bergin (0-2), S Dooley (0-1)

Subs: O Kealey (0-1) for S Dooley, S Wynne for D Franks, D Morkan for D Kenny, C Coughlan for B Carroll, J Gorman (0-1) for B Murphy

Referee: E Morris (Dublin)