Ulster SHC final: McKinley points Saffrons to provincial success

July 12, 2015

Kevin Ryan.
©INPHO/Presseye/John McIlwaine.

Antrim 1-15
Down 1-14

Conor McKinley's injury-time point was the difference as Antrim caught Down on the line in a closely fought Ulster SHC final in Owenbeg.

After a year to forget from a league and championship point of view, the Saffrons picked up the Liam Harvey Cup for the 14th year in a row but they were made to fight all the way by a determined Down outfit.

The winners enjoyed the perfect start when Conor McCann found the back of the Mourne County net in the 4th minute but they went in at the break trailing by 1-6 to 1-9.

Gareth 'Magic' Johnson cancelled out McCann's goal via the penalty spot and as full-time approached Antrim's winning sequence was under serious threat as they trailed by two points.

Kevin Ryan's charges fought back to restore parity with one minute left on the clock and McKinley sealed the victory with an injury-time strike.

Antrim - C O'Connell; O McFadden, M Donnelly, R McCambridge (0-1); J Dillon, C McKinley (0-1), T McCann; N McAuley, M Dudley; PJ O'Connell (0-1), C McCann (1-1), E Campbell; D McClean (0-6f), C Carson (0-2), D McKernan (0-1). Subs: C Ross (0-1) for M Donnelly, P Burke for E Campbell, N McKenna for N McAuley, J Connolly (0-1f) for D McKernan, D Traynor for D McClean.

Down - S Keith; M Hughes, S Ennis, M McCullough; R Brannigan, C O'Neill, D McManus; P Sheehan (0-1), F Conway; C Woods (0-1), J McCusker, S Dineen (0-1); J McManus, G Johnson (1-8, 1-0pen, 0-7f), J Coyle. Subs: C Fitzsimons (0-1) for J Coyle, M Ennis (0-1) for J McCusker, D Hughes (0-1) for P Sheehan, S Nicholson for F Conway, M Turley for C Fitzsimons, M Nicholson for G Johnson.

Referee - D Hughes.


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