Ulster SFC quarter-final:
Derry 2-23 Antrim 1-13
Derry enjoyed their first Ulster Championship win since winning the title back in 2023 on Saturday when the Oak leaf County proved too good for visitors Antrim to progress to the provincial semi-final.
The 13 point winning margin didn’t flatter the Oak Leaf side and indeed had it not been for a string of brilliant saves by Antrim keeper, John McMabb the margin of victory would have been much greater.
Played in glorious sunshine at Celtic Park, the first half took it’s time to get going and Antrim impressed early in the game and a goal from Niall Burns after 11 minutes moved them into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.
Burns was Antrim’s best forward and opened the scoring in the very first Saffron attack but points from Lochlan Murray and Shane McGuigan edged the hosts into a one point lead.
Burn’s goal stung Derry into action and they replied through, Lachlan Murray, Ruairi Forbes, Eoin McAvoy and Paul Cassidy before Burns briefly edged the Saffron ahead once more.
Eoin McAvoy equalised and Niall Loughrin gave Derry back a lead they would hold and add to in impressive form with Padraig McGrogan adding a point a minute later.
The returning Eoin McEvoy fired over to ignite a scoring burst before Niall Loughlin and Padraig McGrogan both added points.
Better was to follow in the 23rd minute when Lachlan Murray intercepted a ball around the middle of the park with keeper McNabb caught out as he pushed up in support of his attack, and raced forward to unleash an unstoppable shot to the net.
Antrim came close to scoring a second goal of their own with the ball moved through the hands to Pat Shivers but his shot on goal was deflected over the bar by a defender.
Pat Shivers added another Antrim point but the hosts were well in command at that stage, with Shane McGuigan pointing a free and then raising an Orange flag and Loughlin slotting over another from an acute angle to see the Oakleafers lead by 1-11 to 1-4 ahead at the break.
Antrim attempted to close the gap on the restart but a Shivers point was ruled out following a breech with McGuigan kicking another 2 pointer from the resulting free for what amounted to a three point swing.
McGuigan, Lachlan Murray and McGuigan again stretched the Derry lead to 9 by the 43d minute and at this stage Antrim were finding it difficult to get their hands on the ball.
Slowly the regained a bit of possession with team captain, Eoghan McCabe pointing and then raising an Orange flag but once again the hosts were able to make an immediate response.
Paul Cassidy put any lingering hopes the Saffrons held beyond them when he followed up on a Loughlin shot that was parried by McNabb to side-foot to the net.
The visitors continued to fight against impossible odds and Niall Burns put the icing on a fine individual performance to bring his total for the evening to 1-3 before being replaced.
But Derry stretched their lead with McGuigan, Murray and Conor Doherty all raising white flags as Paul Cassidy banged home a second Derry goal in the 46th minute.
Despite the loss of Ronan Boyle to a 60th-minute black card, impact sub Ryan McQuillan added an excellent point to the Antrim tally as Derry, with both McGuigan and Murray in scintillating form, cruised to a convincing victory.
Derry now go forward to face the winners of Monaghan and Cavan, who play on Sunday while Antrim will attempt to regroup in preparation for the Tailteann Cup in an attermpt to keep their season alive.
DERRY: S McGuckin, D Baker, R Forbes (0-0-1), C McCluskey, C Doherty (0-0-3), G McKinless, P McGrogan (0-0-1), E McEvoy (0-0-1), B Rogers (0-0-1), E Doherty, C Glass, P Cassidy (1-0-1), N Loughlin (0-0-2), S McGuigan (0-2-5, 2f), L Murray (1-0-3). Subs: P McGurk for D Baker, S Downey for E McEvoy (both 53 mins), N Toner for N Loughlin (57), N O’Donnell for B Rogers (60), R O Mianain (0-0-1) for R Forbes (65).
ANTRIM: J McNabb, J Morgan, E Walsh, K Keenan, E McCabe (0-1-1), P Healy, M Jordan, P McAleer (0-0-1f), J Finnegan, C Hand (0-0-1), A Loughran, R Boyle, N Burns (1-0-3), P Shivers (0-0-2), D McEnhill. Subs: R McQuillan (0-1-1) for A Loughran (37 mins), T McCormack for M Jordan, T McCann for D McEnhill (both 53), B Kelly for K Keenan (60), C Hynds for N Burns (66).
Referee: D Gough.
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