Ulster Minor Hurling Championship final 2024

Antrim 1-14 Derry 1-19

A strong start which saw them score the first six points of the match, set Derry up for their first Ulster Minor Hurling title in 23 years as the overcame Antrim in Sunday’s final at Dunsilly.

With Antrim playing in the Leinster Minor Hurling championship the Saffrons fielded their Under 16 team, but they had beaten Derry in the round robin stage of the competition, though it has to be said a weakened Oak Leaf outfit.

Full forward Patrick McDaid started the scoring in the second minute and scores followed from Fionn Cartan, Fiachra Turner, Carton again, Charlie Friel and Cathal Quinn to open a six point lead.

Team captain Caodhan Crawford, who started at full forward, was seeing none of the ball so the Antrim selectors brought him further out the field and things began to happen. He got Antrim’s first score of the game on ten minutes. The Ballycastle player added two more and suddenly the gap was more manageable, but Derry responded well and came back with three of their own to restore the six point cushion.

The remainder of the opening half as score for score with Derry continuing to kold their advantage and they grabbed the last score of the first half to go in at the break with a seven point cushion. 1-11 to 0-7

Crawford got the first three points of the second half but Derry were always able to close the gap again and Fionn Cartin pulled three back to keep his team comfortably ahead. Antrim battled hard but Derry could always keep them at arms length as they raced to their first Ulster victory since 2001.

After the final whistle Ruairi McNaughton of Cushendall Ruairi Og presented the Danny McNaughton Memorial Cup to Derry captain Niall McNicholl