Sport

Antrim cruise to victory as Down's challenge collapses

ULSTER MHC FINAL: Antrim 3-18 Down 0-5 : ANTRIM CRUISED to their 50th Ulster Minor hurling title with this facile victory over…

Mon Jun 16 2008 - 01:00

ULSTER MHC FINAL: Antrim 3-18 Down 0-5: ANTRIM CRUISED to their 50th Ulster Minor hurling title with this facile victory over a disappointing Down in yesterday's final in Casement Park.

The winners strolled through the game picking off scores at regular intervals. On top at midfield, where Adrian Downey and Conor Rocks were in total control over Michael Cunningham and Shane Conlon, they gave their attack a plentiful supply of the ball throughout.

The winners' attack revelled in the constant supply with the half-forward line of Michael Devlin, and Peter and Michael Dallat outstanding. The defence for the most part was redundant with Stephen Shannon, Conor McClelland and Mark Lynch never seriously troubled.

Down were the much smaller and lighter side but they fought hard throughout. In an overworked defence David Johnson, Ben Toner and Matthew Teague battled hard but apart from Aaron O'Prey and Daniel Toner the attack was very weak.

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Antrim attacked from the start and led by 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time. Their goal came in the fourth minute from Gerald Laverty while Michael Devlin scored four points and Peter Dallat two. Down's scorers were Aaron O'Prey, Daniel Toner and Shane Conlon.

The one-way traffic continued in the second half with Antrim adding goals from Michael Dallat and Michael Armstrong while Peter Dallat, Ciarán Coyle, Gerald Laverty and centre-half back Stephen Shannon all landed points. Down's only scores in this half came from Conlon and Paul Sheehan frees.

ANTRIM: E Gillan; C McGuinness, C McClelland, C McKinley; T McCloskey, S Shannon (0-3), M Lynch; A Downey (0-1), C Rocks; M Devlin (0-6), P Dallat (0-4), M Dallat (1-0); G Laverty (1-1), C Coyle (0-2), S Dobbin. Subs: M Armstrong (1-1)for M Dallat; J Doherty for M. Lynch; E Laverty for S Dobbin; P McKeague for C McKinley.

DOWN: P McNally; J Smith, D Johnston, M Hughes; M Teague, B Toner, M Taylor; M Cunningham, S Conlon (0-2); A O'Prey (0-1), D Ennis, C Mageean; C Doran, K Coyle, D Toner (0-1). Subs: P Sheehan (0-1)for C Doran; J Merron for M Taylor; C Flynn for J Smith; D Doherty for C Mageean; P O'Neill for K Coyle.

Referee: M Mulholland(Derry).