Wexford 1-20
Antrim 1-8

Wexford didn't make the same mistake twice as they safely negotiated the challenge of Antrim in the first game of today's All-Ireland U-21 HC semi-final double bill at Semple Stadium.

Two years ago, the Saffrons stunned the Model County, and the hurling community at large, when springing a surprise 2-15 to 1-16 victory in the corresponding fixture but there was to be no repeat this time around.

Earlier this week, Antrim manager Kevin Ryan predicted that his charges would suffer a heavy defeat due to lack of preparation and interest.

The Waterford native was forced to cancel a number of training sessions and was pessimistic about their side's chances of keeping the scoreboard respectable.

As events panned out, Antrim gave a reasonably good account of themselves, particularly in the second-half, but they never looked like repeating the heroics of two years ago.

Despite a slow start from the Model County, they took an 0-8 to 0-3 lead into the half-time break.

Senior star Conor McDonald found the target with five first-half points while Cathal Dunbar, Kevin Foley and 'man-of-the-match' Tony French also made the scoresheet for the Leinster champions.

Antrim's first-half tally comprised two converted Christy McNaughton free and an Eoghan Campbell point from play.

The second-half was only two minutes old when Conor Devitt finished an overhead pass by McDonald to the Antrim net and JJ Doyle's charges could afford the luxury of conceding a goal to McNaughton in the 50th minute.

Antrim finished the contest with 14 players after Damon McMullan was shown a second yellow card and Ryan's involvement with the northerners now officially comes to an end.

Wexford, meanwhile, will await the winners of the second semi-final between Limerick and Galway in the final which will be placed at the same venue on Saturday, September 12th.

Their shooting is an area that manager Doyle and his backroom team will be keen to address after they accumulated 19 wides today.

Wexford - O O'Leary; S Donohoe, L Ryan, E Conroy; J White, P Foley (0-1), J O'Connor; C Devitt (1-2), T French (0-3); A Kenny (0-2), K Foley (0-2), J Cash; C Dunbar (0-2), C McDonald (0-7, 4f, 1'65, 1sl), P Sutton. Subs: J Firman for J Cash, S Murphy for P Sutton, S Kelly for A Kenny, L McDonald for J O'Connor, S Kenny (0-1) for K Foley.

Antrim - C Heyden; T O'Ciarain, T Burns, D O'Hara; G Walsh, E Campbell (0-2), R McCambridge (0-1); J Connolly, D McMullan (0-1); M Connolly (0-1), C McNaughton (1-2, 0-2f), M Dudley; P McBride, S McCaughan (0-1f), J O'Connell. Subs: C Ross for J Connolly, D Traynor for P McBride, D Murphy for J O'Connell.

Referee - S Cleere.

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