Antrim 1-15, Down 0-11.

Antrim proved too strong for Down in most sectors in this well contested semi-final and deservedly booked their place in the Ulster Minor Hurling Final where they will meet Derry and on this display they look good enough to go all the way as they were rarely troubled at any stage.

Down opened the scoring with a point from a free by Pearse Og McCrickard who was Down's main scoring threat but from there to the final minutes they were playing catch up as Antrim pulled clear after Dara Rocks got them off the mark with a goal in the 2nd minute.

By the twenty minute mark Antrim had opened a seven point gap, Christy McNaughton with two from frees and one each by Seaghan Shannon and James Connolly. Down came more into things in the final five minutes of the half with four points, two from frees by McCrickard to narrow the gap to four by the break, Antrim 1-7, Down 0-6.

In the second half Antrim continued to hold the upper hand and always had more options going forward with Christy McNaughton in particular proving a real handful for the Down defence. At the other end Pearse Og McCrickard was fighting a lone battle as far as scores for Down were concerned and he finished top scorer in the match with 8 points, two from frees. Overall he lacked sufficient support for Down to have a chance of turning it around and Antrim were comfortable and deserving winners.

Scorers:

Antrim: D Rocks 1-3, C McNaughton 0-6 (3f 0-1 peno), J Connolly 0-3, R Rooney, S Shannon and J McNaughton 0-1 each.

Down: P Og McCrickard 0-9 (2f), J Murphy and O McManus 0-1 each.

Antrim: C Butler, S Gaskin, R McNulty, HP McNeill, C Walsh, E Conlon, C McMullan, G Walsh, R Rooney, S Shannon, J Connolly, J McNaughton, J McCurdy, D Rocks, C McNaughton. Subs: S Walsh for S Shannon, R Irvine for c Walsh, C Patterson for R Rooney, C McCaughan for C McMullan, A Burke for J McCurdy.

Down: S Duggan, M Fisher, A Scott, D Mallon, M Patterson, B Trainor, C Costello, R Courtney, L Savage, R McCusker, R Campbell, J Murphy, B Byers, P Og McCrickard, C Coulter. Subs: J Doran for A Scott, P J Davidson for M Patterson, O McManus for B Byres, R Beattie for R Campbell, D Hanrahan for C Coulter.

Referee: J McAndrew (Monaghan). Tweet

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