Antrim 4-23

Derry 3-11

(After extra-time)

Antrim needed extra-time to overcome Derry in a rip-roaring Ulster MHC semi-final this afternoon.

While the rest of the country was glued to the Republic of Ireland v France soccer match on TV, two evenly matched teams were slugging it out for a place in the provincial decider against Down, who received a walkover from Armagh in the other semi-final.

Derry took the game to the visitors in the opening half and, aided by a 22nd minute goal from Eoghan O'Kane, led by 1-8 to 0-5 at the break.

They were still six points clear, 2-10 to 0-7, midway through the second half thanks to a second goal by Odhran McKeever before Antrim hit back with three-pointers from Keelan Malloy and Eoin O'Neill. When O'Kane grabbed his second goal with five minutes of normal time remaining to put the Oak Leafers 3-10 to 2-10 ahead, it looked like they would prevail, but the Saffrons dug deep and Malloy's point in the fifth minute of stoppage-time left it 2-13 to 3-10 at the final whistle.

Antrim took control in extra-time when goals in either period from Conal Doherty-Cunning and Peter McCallum helped them to a flattering 15-point win.

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