Antrim 3-18 Derry 0-9:AFTER THE Limerick lashing of last weekend, Antrim senior hurlers needed to do something special before their home fans at Casement Park yesterday to earn some brownie points and they managed to give their supporters something to shout about.
Antrim stormed to a one-sided defeat of Derry, who had put both Armagh and Down out of the competition. There was never a chance that an upset was on the cards as Antrim retained the title for an 11th consecutive season.
Conditions were difficult and the first half fare was well below par but when Antrim slipped into gear during the second period it was a matter of how much they would win by, as Derry didn’t have the fire-power up front to trouble the home side.
Had it not been for four super saves by Derry keeper Darrel McDermott the margin would have been much, much greater than 18 points.
The Saffrons led by 1-9 to 0-5 at the interval with Conor Carson rifling in the goal after only seven minutes and, even though Derry made a brave effort on the resumption to turn the tide, it was obvious the Oak Leaf men weren’t going to seriously trouble Antrim.
Two points was all that Derry could muster for half-an-hour as Antrim tagged on 1-7, Shane McNaughton the goal-scorer, to lead 2-16 to 0-7 with five minutes left. Derry’s cup of woe spilled over when inside a minute defenders Mark Craig and Michael Warnock both received straight red cards and Eddie McCloskey fired in another Antrim goal with just a few minutes remaining.
ANTRIM: D Quinn; James Campbell, N McGarry, A Graffin; M Herron (0-2), N McAuley, Johnny Campbell, B McAuley (0-2), S McNaughton (1-2); E McCloskey (1-2), C Carson (1-1), P Shiels; L Watson (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), N McManus (0-2), B McFall. Subs: C McCann (0-1) for Sheils (56 mins), J Scullion for Watson (64 mins), C Rea for B McAuley (64 mins), D Hamill for McFall (68 mins), C McFall for Carson (68 mins).
DERRY: D McDermott; S McCullagh, C Quinn, M Warnock; R McCloskey (0-1), L Hinphey, M Craig (0-1); O McCloskey, P Kelly (0-1, 65); A Grant (0-1, free), P McCloskey (0-1), K Hinphey (0-1); C McKaigue, R Convery (0-1, free), P Henry (0-2, 0-1 free). Subs: C McSorley for Quinn (21 mins), S McGuigan for Henry (49 mins), C Gilmore for R McCloskey (49 mins), S Farren for P McCloskey (58 mins), J McCloskey for P Kelly (58 mins).
Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).
ANTRIM and Down will have to meet again to decide the Ulster MHC title. Antrim led by three late on at Casement Park but Down’s Chris Egan scored a late goal. There was still time for Lorcan McMullan (Down) and Conor Johnson to exchange points to leave the final score at 2-13 apiece.
