Croke Park beckons for the Antrim hurlers as they edged out Ulster rivals Down in a high scoring Christy Ring Cup semi-final at Loughgiel today.
The scoreboard read Antrim 1-24, Down 0-23 at the end of an entertaining seventy minutes after the Saffrons overturned a six point half-time deficit.
Whatever was said in the Antrim dressing room during the half-time interval had the desired effect as they outscored the visitors by 1-17 to 0-10 in the second period.
Captain Conor Carson set the comeback in motion with a goal via a free shortly after the resumption.
The sides were level at 1-20 to 0-23 with two minutes of normal time remaining but Antrim finished strongest with four points without reply.
They now await the winners of tomorrow's semi-final between Kildare and Meath at headquarters on Saturday, June 4th.
Meanwhile, Derry lost out to Wicklow by 0-15 to 2-23 in the relegation play-off at Pairc Esler.
Antrim - C O'Connell; O McFadden, T McCloskey, C McKinley; S McCrory, N McAuley, M Burke; E Campbell (0-1), Ciaran Johnston; E McCloskey (0-1), J Dillon (0-1), N Elliott; Conor Johnston (0-1), C Carson (1-1), Ciaran Clarke (0-16, 12f, 1'65). Subs: N McKenna (0-3) for N Elliott, J Connolly for J Dillon, S McAfee for Conor Johnston.
Down - S Keith; M Conlan, P Flynn, J McManus; C O'Neill, C Taggart (0-3), J McGrath; S Ennis, F Conway; C Mageean, C O'Prey (0-3, 2f, 1'65), D Hughes (0-3); D Toner (0-9, 5f), C Woods (0-4), S Nicholson. Subs: C Egan (0-1) for P Flynn, B Byers for S Nicholson, J Doran for F Conway, O McManus for C Taggart.
Referee - D Hughes.
**
Wicklow - D O'Neill; L Maloney, S Kelly, C O Dulachain; P Keane, J Henderson, M O'Brien; R Keddy, E Kearns; P Doran (0-1), T Storey (0-1), D Staunton (1-3); M Lee (0-2), D Masterson (0-4), C Moorehouse (1-11, 0-8f). Subs: A Byrne (0-1) for P Doran, E McCormack for T Storey.
Derry - D McDermott; D McCloskey, C Quinn, S McCullagh; B Quigley, C McSorley, B Og McGilligan; A Grant (0-1), T McCloskey; M McGuigan (0-3), J O'Dwyer (0-1), R Convery (0-7, 6f); G O'Kane, S Farren, O McCloskey (0-1). Subs: M McGrath (0-1) for G O'Kane, D Foley (0-1) for J O'Dwyer.
Referee - J O'Brien.
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