ANTRIM retain the Danny McNaughton Cup - Antrim 2-15 Down 0-11

Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Hurling Championship final: Antrim 2-15 Down 0-11

ANTRIM retained the Danny McNaughton Cup with a comfortable 10-point win over Down in the Ulster MHC final at Owenbeg yesterday.

The Saffrons only scored one point from play in the first half but two goals after the break proved decisive.

Donal McKernan scored a penalty after man-of-the-match Conal Doherty-Cunning was fouled, while substitute Peter McCallin bagged a stunning solo goal in injury-time.

It was an impressive performance from Antrim but their manager Ciaran Kearney insists more will be required in the All-Ireland quarterfinal against Galway.

“I suppose, in the first 10 or 12 minutes, we were slow to get going,” he said.

“We were hurling okay, but boys were just taking silly options – hitting the ball at the sweeper. Guys were winning the ball in the backline but being intercepted.

“We were trying things that we had been working on and we couldn’t complain too much.

“When we finally got the ball into the forward line, that made the difference.

“We said the last day that our hook and block count wasn’t enough but the stats were much better today.

“Going in only a point down at halftime with a decent breeze to come in the second half certainly made the difference.

 “The subs came in and played well so there are lots of positives to take from the game but we know we have still things to work on ahead of an All-Ireland quarter-final.”

Down were quickest out of the traps and led 0-3 to no score after 10 minutes with Conor McCrickard scoring three frees.

Antrim’s poor start was perfectly illustrated when Doherty-Cunning missed an easy free in the opening minute but the Dunloy man made amends by slotting over his side’s opening three points, all from frees, to tie the game after 18 minutes.

Eoin O’Neill also crashed a shot off the crossbar as the defending champions took the game to their opponents.

However, Down were dominating the midfield battle and were able to create more chances and a rally of fine scores from McCrickard, Daithi Sands and Stephen McKey restored their three-point advantage.

Antrim missed another goal chance when midfielder Keelan Molloy saw his shot cleared off the line by Eoin Coulter.

The Saffrons got their first score from play when Doherty-Cunning slotted over in injury-time as Down led 0-8 to 0-7 at the break.

The lead was wiped out on the restart as Keelan Molloy leveled the game before Antrim took the lead for the first time on 38 minutes as Doherty-Cunning landed another free. A great 65 against the breeze from Donal Og Rooney and a point from play from Ruairi McCrickard proved to be Down’s last scores of the game as the Ardsmen went scoreless for the last quarter.

During that period, Antrim played some delightful hurling as they bossed proceedings until the full-time whistle. Doherty-Cunning was fouled for a penalty which Donal McKernan converted to put Antrim 1-13 to 0-11 clear.

Further points from play followed from the impressive DohertyCunning and Eoin O’Neill before substitute Peter McCallin put the icing on the cake.

The St Paul’s attacker sprinted clear of his marker, solid a dummy to another Down defender before ending a lung-bursting run by firing past Huw Flynn in the Down goal to add a touch of gloss to the final score.

MATCH STATS
Antrim: P Carlin; C Kinsela, L Gillan, E McQuillan; S Magill, C Boyd, E Smyth; G Og Laverty, K Molloy (0-2) ; A O’Boyle (0-1), D Black (0-1), D McKernan (1-0 penalty); D McShane, C Doherty-Cunning (0-10, 0-8 frees), E O’Neill (0-1). Subs: P McCallin (1-0) for O’Boyle (48), E Laverty for Black (55), C McDonnell for McKernan (57), R Crummey for McShane (60).
Down: H Flynn; E Kelly, P Branagan, J Carlin; C Smyth, E Coulter, D Og Rooney (0-1, 0-1 65); R McCrickard (0-1), D McCartney; T Murray, D Sands (0-2), C McCrickard (0-5, 0-4 freess); S McKey (0-1), A Mee, A Doran (0-1). Subs: M McKey for Murray (46), P Miskimmon for Doran (55), C Hynes for Smyth (59).
Referee: J Connors (Donegal)

Report by Tomas McGurk