Ulster SHC Final replay/Antrim 3-14 Down 0-18: Antrim full forward Paddy Richmond ripped the heart from Down with two blistering first-half goals at Casement Park to win this ill-tempered showdown and clinch the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship for a third successive season.
Down will now face Galway in Saturday's qualifier without two key defenders, Simon Wilson and Stephen Murray, after they sustained injuries in the opening 23 minutes. From that point on, it was damage limitation for Down.
All hell broke loose moments into the game, and, out of the ugly melee, Down centre back Gary Savage and Antrim skipper Colm McGuckian picked up bookings.
A number of other players were extremely fortunate to escape the attention of referee Eamonn Morris.
At this stage, Down led through a first-minute long-range free by right back Wilson. Liam Watson levelled after eight minutes, but in the ninth minute he drew harshly across Wilson's left knee - breaking his stick in the process - and the stricken Wilson was eventually stretchered off and taken to hospital. Watson was booked.
Antrim moved up a gear with veteran Jim Connolly dominating in centrefield.
Richmond made sweet amends for a glaring point-blank miss in the 18th minute, to slot home Watson's 23rd minute lob.
Before the killer goal, Down had to endure another body-blow when Murray hobbled off with a severe calf-muscle problem in the 23rd minute.
Down, to their credit, tried to stay with a now rampant Antrim, but had no answer to Richmond's injury-time rocket after a cute lob by Colm McGuckian.
Antrim turned 2-8 to O-7 in front, but restarted on a strangely sluggish note. The Herron brothers, Michael and Ciaran, managed to rekindle their efforts with excellent points.
Down plugged on with scores by Brendan McGourty and big John Convery. But any outside hope of salvaging the day ended in a double whammy.
Antrim goalkeeper Damien Quinn brought off a blinding save from Ger McGrattan and then in the 56th minute Brian McFall cut in from the left flank, jinked past three defenders, and whipped a half-volley past Clarke.
ANTRIM: Damien Quinn, M Kettle, K Kelly, B Herron (0-1), M McCambridge, K McKeegan, J Campbell, C Herron (0-1), J Connolly (0-1), M Herron (0-2), C McGuckian, L Watson (0-2), Darren Quinn, P Richmond (2-3), B McFall (1-3). Subs: L Richmond (0-1) for McCambridge (53 mins), G J McIntosh for Watson (55), Ward for Darren Quinn (58), M Magill for Connolly (69).
DOWN: G Clarke, L Clarke, S Murray, E Dorrian, S Wilson (0-1), G Savage, G Clarke, G Adair (0-1), A Savage (0-1), G McGrattan J Convery (0-2), B McGourty (0-4), M Coulter (0-1), G Johnson (0-2), S Clarke (0-6). Subs: J H Hughes for Wilson (12), P Hughes for Murray (23), A Bell for J Hughes (48).
Referee: Eamonn Morris (Dublin).
