Derry Masters 0- 16  Antrim Masters 0-13

Bellaghy provided the perfect setting for an entertaining and highly competitive encounter between Derry and Antrim Masters, with good conditions helping produce a fast-paced game played with plenty of intensity from the opening whistle.

The match was end-to-end for long periods, with both sides showing plenty of commitment and determination. While Derry ultimately emerged victorious, the final scoreline perhaps flattered the Oak Leaf men, with Antrim more than playing their part in what was a keenly contested encounter.

The opening half was particularly tight, with both teams enjoying spells of possession and creating opportunities. Derry, however, proved the more accurate in front of the posts, making better use of their chances and gradually building a lead.

Antrim created plenty of scoring opportunities of their own and moved the ball with purpose, but their finishing let them down on several occasions. A number of promising attacks ended without the required score, while Derry were much more clinical when chances presented themselves.

Despite Derry holding the advantage at the interval, the half-time scoreline did not truly reflect the balance of play, with Antrim unfortunate not to have more to show for their efforts.

Whatever was said in the Antrim dressing room during the break certainly had the desired effect, as they came flying out of the blocks in the second half. The Saffron men raised the intensity another notch and began to eat into Derry’s advantage.

Antrim attacked with renewed purpose and, for a spell, had Derry under considerable pressure. Their movement and direct running created several openings, and the gap on the scoreboard was reduced considerably as they began to find their range.

Indeed, Antrim arguably created the better goal-scoring opportunities during this period. Derry’s goalkeeper, however, proved equal to the challenge, producing several crucial saves at important moments to deny the Antrim forwards and prevent the game from swinging completely in their opponents’ favour.

With the game finely balanced, both sides continued to trade attacks in an exciting end-to-end contest. Antrim battled hard to close the deficit, but Derry’s experience and composure began to tell as the game entered its latter stages.

Derry managed to find another gear late on, putting together a series of attacks that eventually saw them pull clear on the scoreboard. Antrim continued to press until the final whistle, but Derry had done enough to secure the victory.

While Derry will be pleased with the result and, in particular, their accuracy and their goalkeeper’s contribution when the pressure was at its greatest, Antrim can take plenty of positives from the performance.

The Saffron Masters showed tremendous spirit to fight their way back into the contest after the break and created enough chances to make the outcome considerably closer. Ultimately, it was Derry’s greater accuracy and their ability to take their opportunities when they mattered that proved decisive.

Bellaghy witnessed a thoroughly competitive Masters encounter, played in the right spirit and with a level of intensity that belied the age of the players involved. Both teams can take plenty of encouragement from a game that provided end-to-end action right through to the closing stages.

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