Antrim 2-17
Derry 2-16

A last-gasp Dan McKernan point earned Antrim a 13th consecutive Ulster SHC title at Derry's expense in Owenbeg.

It was tough on the home side who had played more than half of the game with 14 men after Tiarnan McCloskey was red-carded coming up to half-time. Despite the sending off, the challengers had held a 1-9 to 1-8 lead at the break.

Kevin Ryan's charges made a dream start when PJ O'Connell goaled after just 22 seconds. Paul Shiels added two frees, but with Ruairi Convery unerring from placed balls at the other end, Derry had the margin down to two points, 0-6 to 1-5, by the 15th minute.

Convery rattled the net to bring the sides level on 1-6 apiece after 25 minutes. Shiels' fifth point restored Antrim's lead, but two late points from Aaron Kelly gave the Oak Leafers the edge at half-time.

Further scores from Kelly and Convery gave the underdogs a 1-12 to 1-10 lead before Conor McCann's 45th minute goal edged Kevin Ryan's men back in front. But after Convery equalised, Paddy McCloskey scored Derry's second goal to propel them into a 2-14 to 2-10 lead with 15 minutes to go.

Antrim, however, fought back to level through points from Shiels, McCann (two) and substitute Dan McCloskey.

Dan McKernan and Dan McCloskey traded points before McKernan won it at the death.

Antrim - S McToal; O McFadden, M Donnelly, A Graffin; M Bradley, C Carson, N McAuley; J McGreevy, D Hamill (0-1); C McCann (1-2), P Shiels (0-8, 5f), E Campbell; C McGuinness, PJ O'Connell (1-0), D McKernan (0-4). Subs: R McCambridge for J McGreevy, N McKenna (0-1) for C McGuinness, D McCloskey (0-1) for D Hamill.

Derry - D McDermott; A Rafferty, C Quinn, E McGuckin; P Cleary, O McCloskey, C McQuillan; K Hinphey, L Hinphey; T McCloskey, S McGuigan (0-1), A Kelly (0-4); J O'Dwyer, R Convery (1-10, 0-8f, 2'65), P McCloskey (1-0). Subs: M Warnock for C McQuillan, S Farren (0-1) for J O'Dwyer, J McCloskey for S McGuigan, M Conway for P McCloskey.

Referee - F Horgan. Tweet

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