Ulster Hurling final/O'Donovan Rossa 0-16 Ballygalget 0-14: Antrim's O'Donovan Rossa closed a 25-year gap at Casement Park yesterday when they outpointed Ballygalget of Down in the Ulster Hurling final.

Rossa's Paul Graham turned in a fine display while Jim Connolly and Joe Boyle shaded the midfield battle.

Rossa led by 0-5 to 0-4 after 19 minutes before Martin Devine scrambled an Eoin Clarke effort off the winners' goal-line. Then, inside 90 seconds, Paul Graham and Paul Close rifled over points to give Rossa a 0-8 to 0-4 lead. Ballygalget's Johnny McGrattan hit four frees to level at 0-8 each.

The losers opened the second period smartly with Aaron Dynes and Barry Coulter pointing, but points by Graham and Mickey McCullough for Rossa tied the battle again at 0-11. Jim Connolly pointed for Rossa and it was back to all square at 13 apiece on 50 minutes when Johnny McGrattan fired over a free.

Paul Graham and Chris Hamill added points to seal victory.

ROSSA: M Devine; A McCormack, J Close, E Graham; M Kettle, G Bell, S Shannon (0-2, 65s); J Boyle (0-1), J Connolly (0-1); P Close (0-2), C Hamill (0-3), P Graham (0-4, 3 frees); C McDonnell (0-1), J O'Neill (0-1), M McCullough (0-1). Sub: K Grieve for McCullough (49 mins).

BALLYGALGET: Graham Clarke; L Clarke, E Dorian, S Roddy; M Coulter snr (0-1, free), P Coulter, Gabriel Clarke; P Monan, A Dynes (0-1); B Coulter (0-1), G Johnson (0-2), D Flynn (0-1); E Clarke (0-1), J McGrattan (0-7, all frees), S Clarke.

Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).