Waterford 5-25 Antrim 1-8
Seán Power’s Waterford demolished Antrim by 29 points in the first Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Patrick Curran scored 2-7 as the Déise advanced to a first final in this grade since 1992.
The bookies were offering 25 points on the handicap and Power’s charges didn’t let up as they rammed home their superiority over the Glensmen to advance to a September 10th final.
Antrim were simply outclassed but in fairness, they went man-on-man rather than operating a system similar to last year’s semi-final against Wexford, when they used two sweepers.
It played into rampant Waterford’s hands, however, as they opened up a 13-point lead by the break and more than doubled that advantage in the second half.
The writing was on the wall from an early stage as Waterford cruised into an eleven point lead – 2-5 to 0-0 – with 15 minutes on the watch.
Tom Devine scored the first goal of the game in the 11th minute, finishing well but with Antrim arguing that he took too many steps before crashing home a bullet drive.
Waterford’s second goal had a hint of good fortune about it as DJ Foran’s shot was half-blocked and Antrim corner back Eoin McManus touched the ball into his own net.
And on the stroke of half-time, Curran struck the first goal of his brace, after man-of-the-match Stephen Bennett had his initial effort saved by goalkeeper Ryan Elliott.
The agony continued for Antrim into the second half as Waterford, now operating with the breeze blowing towards the Town End of Semple Stadium, kept pushing forward.
Antrim’s leading scorer Saul McCaughan did steal in for a goal early in the second half but it was brief respite for the Saffrons.
Normal service was resumed when Stephen Bennett netted midway through the half and before Curran raised another green flag.
Referee David Hughes played five additional minutes at the end of game as Antrim's misery was prolonged.
A disjointed campaign for manager Ollie Bellew saw the Antrim manager trying to cobble together a team in a five-week period.
And the gulf in class was stark here as Antrim’s senior stars managed to flush their Kilkenny senior heartbreak from their systems within a week.
WATERFORD: G Power; W Hahessy, C Gleeson, D Lyons; M Harney, A Gleeson (0-2), C Prunty; C Roche, Shane Bennett (0-1); Stephen Bennett (1-1), T Devine (1-2), M O'Brien (0-1); P Curran (2-7, four frees), DJ Foran (0-4), M Kearney (0-4, one sl).
Subs: P Hogan (0-1) for Shane Bennett (16 mins), A Farrell (0-1) for Roche (39 mins), B O'Keeffe for Lyons (41 mins), J Fagan (0-1) for Devine (44 mins), D Ryan for A Gleeson (50 mins).
ANTRIM: R Elliott; G Walsh, T Burns, E McManus (1-0, og); D McMullan (0-1), P Burke, R McCambridge; C Ross, A Delargy; M Connolly (0-2, one free), D Nugent (0-1), J O'Connell; S McCaughan (1-4, three frees), TT Butler, R McKee.
Subs: J Connolly for Ross (28), R Gillan for Walsh (40), C McNaughton for Nugent (43), C McAllister for O'Connell (47), R Delargy for McManus (51).
Referee: D Hughes (Carlow).
