Derry upset the odds to earn a place in the All-Ireland under-21 hurling semi final following a well deserved win over Antrim at Casement Park on Wednesday night. Antrim 1-18 Derry 2-16 The Saffrons were strong favourites to advance to a semi final meeting with Dublin, but Derry had obviously not read the script as they turned in a majestic performance particularly in the second half to run out winners by the narrowest of margins, thanks mainly to two goals by Sean Leo McGoldrick. From the outset, it was obvious that Antrim were not going to win this match as the Oak Leaf County raced into a 0-3 to 0-12 lead after just seven minutes. An Eddie McCloskey point helped Antrim take the lead after 12 minutes, but Derry responded through points from Paddy Henry and Oisin McCloskey to edge in front once again. The sides continued to exchange points for the remainder of the half, but it was the home side that held the lead at the interval, by 0-9 to 0-8, with all to play for in the second half. No one could have predicted a winner in the early stages of the second half as the sides were level on three occasions in the opening 12 minutes. However the match was about to be turned on its head as McGoldrick took centre stage. The speedy corner forward outpaced the Antrim defence to fire the sliothar into the net and just a minute later he scored in a similar fashion as the Saffrons' full back line could not handle his pace as the gap was now six points. To their credit, Antrim kept battling away and points were followed by a Paddy Doherty goal, but it was a case of too little too late as Derry held on for a famous win. Tweet

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