ANTRIM...3-18 DERRY...1-07: Although Antrim started well at Casement Park, they could do nothing to stop Derry securing their place in the Ulster minor hurling final yesterday.

A point from a free by Mark Lynch and a neatly crafted goal by Ryan Kealey left Derry leading by 1-1 to 0-0 after just three minutes but once the home side slipped into gear they couldn't be stopped.

Two goals within five minutes gave Antrim the advantage as they led by 2-10 to 1-5 at the interval. Patrick Magill hammered home the first goal in the 15th minute from a 20-metre free and the second, in the 20th, was firmly struck by Steve McGarry.

The second half saw a succession of Antrim scores with Derry confined to just two more points. The third Antrim goal was chalked up by Stephen McGarry after he finished a Jim Peoples pass to the net on 52 minutes.

ANTRIM: P Shields; M Devlin, N McAuley, B McDermott; L Knocker, C McQuillan, R McDonnell; C McFall, C Boyle (0-2); D Laverty, P Magill (1-7, 1-3 frees), M Butler (0-3); J Peoples (0-1), S McCrory (0-3), S McGarry (2-2). Sub: S McNaughton for Laverty (35 mins).

DERRY: M Kirkpatrick; M McGuigan, B Dodds, M Craig; S McGoldrick, M Lynch (0-4, three frees), N O'Doherty; C Lynch, D McEldowney (0-1); E Kealey, R McCloskey, G O'Kane; C Mulholland, D Brunton, R Kealey (1-0). Subs: P McGlade (0-2) for McCloskey (10 mins), G Kelly for Mulholland (36 mins), S O'Hagan for E Kealey (43 mins), C McDaid for C Lynch (56 mins), J Young for O'Doherty (58 mins).

Referee: D Magee (Down).