Ulster SHC Semi-final/ Antrim 2-23 Down 0-12: The scoreline from yesterday's Ulster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final, at rainy Casement Park, doesn't lie as the home side raced to a place in the final, against Derry or New York, with the holders now red-hot favourites to retain the title.
From an early stage Antrim were on top with captain Karl McKeegan rock solid at centre back. Along with Johnny Campbell and Mal Molloy, McKeegan gave the Antrim forwards a plentiful supply of the sliotar.
At 0-6 to 0-4 after 13 minutes it looked as if this might be a close affair but one minute later, top scorer Johnny McIntosh - he hit 1-8 - slipped the ball into the Down net to open the floodgates. Michael Dallas, Brian McFall, Joey Scullion and McIntosh cut lanes through the opposition to fire over some great scores, McFall cutting a sideline puck over the bar in the 19th minute and Paddy Richmond screwing the ball over from almost the corner-flag on 24 minutes.
Richmond snapped up Antrim's second goal a minute later from a Michael Herron cross and it looked as if a third Antrim goal was on the way in the 33rd minute when McIntosh was brought down in the box. He took the penalty himself but elected to slot the ball over the bar.
Just before half-time Ciarán Coulter shaved the outside of the post when a Down goal might have lifted this game and Antrim were comfortable leading 2-15 to 0-6 at the interval.
Martin Coulter gave Down some hope of a recovery when he lofted over a point 13 seconds after the restart but the comeback never materialised. Antrim snapped up six points to just two in reply inside the next 20 minutes to lead 2-21 to 0-9.
All that Down could muster in their late rally were three points against two from Antrim.
In the 57th minute Down midfielder Andy Savage was yellow-carded with Antrim's Bernard McAuley and three minutes later Savage was dismissed after a pull on McKeegan. "It certainly was much easier than we expected," said McKeegan. "After our scare against London last week we talked about this game and we knew the London performance wouldn't do."
ANTRIM: DD Quinn; B McAuley, C Herron, G Cunningham; M Molloy (0-1, free), K McKeegan, J Campbell (0-1); C Cunning, M Scullion; M Herron (0-1), J Scullion (0-4), M Dallas (0-2); J McIntosh (1-8, four frees), P Richmond (1-1), B McFall (0-5, one free, one sideline). Subs: Gettins for Cunning (57 mins); D Gamble for McAuley, S Óg McFadden for Richmond (both 62 mins): R McGarry for Quinn (66 mins).
DOWN: Graham Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, S Roddy; Gabriel Clarke, G Savage, K Courtney; A Savage (0-1), C Coulter (0-1); P Hughes, P Braniff (0-5, two frees), G Adair; M Coulter (0-3, two frees), B McGourty, E Clarke. Subs: S Clarke (0-2) for McGourty (9 mins); R McGrattan for Adair (27 mins); D Flynn for E Clarke (half-time).
Referee: D Murphy (Wexford).
