Seven Goal Antrim Overpower Down

The Summer of 2014 proved to be a fruitful one for Antrim hurlers with their Minor and U21 teams collecting Ulster titles. The U21 side were in superb for as they overcame Down at the Athletics Ground in Armagh and while Antrim manager, Kevin Ryan was happy with the result he certainly wasn’t happy with the decision of Ulster Council to bring the time of the game forward to accommodate a Reserve Championship game.

Bord Gáis Energy Ulster U21 Hurling Championship Final

Antrim 7-17 Down 1-5

Antrim manager, Kevin Ryan was scatching of the Ulster council after Wednesday night’s Ulster U21 Hurling final between Antrim and Down at the Athletic Grounds had been brought forward by half an hour to accommodate a Reserve Championship game.

“Some of our lads had to finish work at 3.30 in order to be here for this game. It’s a poor reflection on how the Ulster Council view the development of hurling” Ryan said.

However, while the Antrim supremo’s protests seemed valid he could have little complaint about his side’s performance as they systematically took an outclassed Down side apart to earn a place in the All Ireland semi-final against the winners of Cork or Clare.

In doing so Antrim won their sixth Ulster U21 hurling title in a row, overpowering Down in a very one-sided final at the Athletic Grounds.

The Saffrons actually conceded the opening two points of the game, from Down duo Peter Mason and Eoghan Sands, but they hit 1-7 before the break to lead by eight at half-time. Their opening goal came a few minutes before the break through substitute Seán McAfee.

Antrim captain Stephen McAfee lifts the cup as Ulster President Martin McAvinney looks on. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Antrim found the net six times in the second half as they ran riot on Down. Niall McKenna and Saul McCaughan both landed goals shortly after the restart to effectively end the game as a contest, while further goals followed from McCaughan and Connor Burke (2).

Down substitute Conal Fitzsimons found the net for the Mourne County 10 minutes before the end, but it was a brief respite as Ciarán Clarke scored Antrim’s seventh goal mere seconds later to take his personal tally for the game to 1-6.

Antrim will play the winners of the Munster final (Clare or Cork) in the All-Ireland semi-final on August 23. They will be hoping to repeat their achievement of 2013, when they stunned Leinster champions Wexford with a 2-15 to 1-16 victory in the All-Ireland semi-final at Semple Stadium.

Scorers for Antrim: C Clarke 1-6 (2f), S McCaughan 2-1, C Burke 2-0, N McKenna 1-2, Sean McAfee 1-0, D McKernan 0-2, J McGreevy 0-1, M Dudley 0-1, D McCloskey 0-1, R McCambridge 0-1, Stephen McAfee 0-1, E McCaughan 0-1

Scorers for Down: C Fitzsimmon 1-1, E Sands 0-2, J McGrath 0-1, P Mason 0-1

ANTRIM: C Butler; T O Ciarain, P Burke, F Donnelly; J McGreevy, E Campbell, M Bradley; D McGuinness, M Dudley; D McCloskey, R McCambridge, N McKenna; C Clarke, D McKernan, A McAfee. Subs: Sean McAfee for McGuinness (23), S McCaughan for Donnelly (h-t), C Burke for McCloskey (44) E McCaughan for Stephen McAfee (48), M Connolly for Bradley (52).

DOWN: S Savage; M Conlan, M McCullough, G O’Neill; C Taggart, C O’Neill, J McGrath; J McManus, R Brannigan; P Mason, B Nicholson, C Egan; L Savage, S Mageean, E Sands. Subs: B Byers for G O’Neill (37), C Fitzsimmons for Savage (41), A Scott for McManus (55), J Doran for McCullough (55), D Mallon for Mageean (55).

Referee: A Nash (Derry)

CAPTIONS

21) Antrim celebrate after defeating Down in the Bord Gais Ulster u21 Hurling Final at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh on Wednesday night.