Antrim 2-20
Derry 1-12

Antrim won their fourth Bord Gais Energy Ulster U21HC title on the bounce and their 28th in all thanks to a comfortable victory over Derry at the Morgan Athletic Grounds last night.

After a lively opening 20 minutes, the Saffrons got on top before half-time and killed off Derry's challenge with five points from play within 10 minutes of the restart. The winners scored an unanswered 1-3 early on, with Stephen Smith finding the net after seven minutes, but Ger Rogan's Derry side showed character to battle their way back onto level terms by the end of the first quarter thanks in no small part to full forward Shane Farren's 1-2.

However, Conor McCann's 20th minute goal put the holders back in the driving seat and they went on to lead 2-10 to 1-8 at the break.

The Saffrons gradually pulled away in the second half with McCann and Smith finishing up with 2-6 between them.

Antrim : J O'Mullan; C Murray, R Gillan, F Donnelly; J McShane, M Donnelly, J McCouaig; A McKeown (0-1), S McAfee (0-3); M Devlin (0-4), K McKiernan (0-2), J Black (0-3, 0-1 free); S Smith (1-2), C McCann (1-4, 0-1 free), C Laverty (0-1). Subs : C Morgan for Donnelly (39 mins), D McKinley for Devlin (47 mins), P McNaughton for Black (55 mins), S Devine for Murray (56 mins), N McFadden for McCann (59 mins).

Derry : O O'Doherty; M Warnock, C McGurk, C McIntyre; C Convery, K McKaigue, E Cassidy; C Gilmore (0-1), D O'Neill; N Ferris (0-2), A Grant (0-3), A Armstrong; T McCloskey (0-2), S Farren (1-4, 0-3 frees), D Shields. Subs : MJ Groogan for Warnock (half-time), R Farren for Cassidy (40 mins), M Taggart for Groogan (46 mins), C Lynch for McIntyre (46 mins), C O'Loane for Shields (49 mins).

Referee: Declan Magee (Down). Tweet

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