Sport

Down have no answer to professional Antrim performance

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Antrim's Ruairi Diamond comes under pressure from Down's Malachy Magee in the Christy Ring Cup semi final game at Cushendall Picture by Seamus Loughran
Antrim's Ruairi Diamond comes under pressure from Down's Malachy Magee in the Christy Ring Cup semi final game at Cushendall Picture by Seamus Loughran Antrim's Ruairi Diamond comes under pressure from Down's Malachy Magee in the Christy Ring Cup semi final game at Cushendall Picture by Seamus Loughran

Christy Ring Cup semi-final

Antrim 4-23 Down 0-15

AFTER 20 minutes of Saturday's Christy Ring Cup semi-final in Cushendall, the outcome was clear.

Antrim showed a mean streak from the throw-in and were in no mood to ease up against a Down side who simply had no answer to their relentlessness as the rain and scores poured.

In the round 2A clash between these Ulster rivals, it took until the closing stages before Antrim pulled clear, but the three-week break after a hectic schedule told as Antrim looked reinvigorated and laid down a marker for the final against Carlow on June 10.

The manner of victory left the hosts satisfied and joint-manager, Terence McNaughton agreed there were few faults to be found in their display.

"It was a very professional performance and shows the work we've done over the past few weeks," he said.

"The chances we created today, we took and maybe even could have had a few more, but I'm very pleased with the work-rate from start to finish. The game was really over after 20 minutes.

"We have three weeks to prepare, get the heads down and Croke Park, here we come."

The theory coming into this game was that Down would leave it all on the field given the prize on offer and at the very least, make life difficult for Antrim, but they simply weren't allowed to.

Ciaran Clarke and Conor Johnston hit goals in each half, while the third member of Antrim's full-forward line, Neil McManus clipped over six points as Down struggled to stop the ball from being worked close to goal.

Clarke clipped over a couple of early frees before his third effort dropped short and McManus controlled brilliantly to fire over from an acute angle.

The Ardsmen opened their account on eight minutes when Conor O'Prey pointed brilliantly from a sideline cut, but there was little else to cheer for the visitors as Antrim surged into a 0-9 to 0-4 lead on 20 minutes.

The writing was on the wall by now and on 25 minutes, the goal that had been coming duly arrived with McManus fielding superbly, popping a pass to Johnston who buried to the net.

Down did respond with points from Danny Toner and Scott Nicholson, but on 30 minutes Clarke hit Antrim's second major despite the best efforts of Stephen Keith to help the hosts into a 2-12 to 0-7 half-time lead.

If Down had any hopes of a second-half revival, they were extinguished just 19 seconds after the start when Clarke gained possession out on the left, soloed through the middle and blasted to the net.

Antrim did fall asleep for maybe 10 minutes as Down hit five of the next seven points to trim the gap back to 11, but order was soon restored as the hosts put their foot back on the accelerator.

Clarke, McManus, Conor McCann, Conor McKinley and substitute, Conor Carson all raised flags before Conor Johnston bagged his second goal of the game on 63 minutes, shrugging off a challenge before rifling into the top corner.

A straight red card for Down full-back, Michael Hughes for a wild challenge on Johnston only added to the visitors' woes, but by this stage it was merely shooting practice for Antrim.

It was certainly a day to forget for Down hurling and manager, Marty Mallon accepted his side were simply out-classed and hinted he may not be the man to guide his county next year.

"Antrim were much better," he admitted.

"Coming up here we knew that. They are two leagues above us and they proved that today. They wanted to go to Croke Park. They want to win the Christy Ring and go up (to MacCarthy Cup). All credit to Antrim, they're light years ahead of us, but we've got to keep banging away at it.

"Whoever is in charge next year, I don't know.... But the fitness levels need to get up, get everybody back and be a bit more serious about the game."

For Antrim, Croke Park beckons and a fourth meeting of the year with Carlow.

There has been little between the sides in each of their meetings and the final is expected to follow a similar pattern, but they will certainly travel with confidence according to McNaughton who was delighted with where his side are at this stage. of their development.

"We feel we are a different squad to what we were last year," he said.

"There is more character there as we have proved in the League games. Last year, we wouldn't have won some of those games.

"They are a good bunch of fellas and all want to play for Antrim. That can only be positive going forward for years to come.

"The guys are going back to their clubs now, so it's important we arrive on June 10 enthusiastic and want to hurl against Carlow in Croke Park."

ANTRIM: C O'Connell; S Rooney, J Dillon, S McCrory; Ciaran Johnston, P Burke (0-1), O McFadden; C McKinley (0-3), P McGill; N McAuley, C McCann (0-3), E Campbell; Conor Johnston (2-1), N McManus (0-6, 1 free), C Clarke (2-7, 0-7 frees). Subs: J Maskey for P McGill (44), C Carson (0-2) for Ciaran Johnston (49), R Diamond for S Rooney (57).

DOWN: S Keith; J McManus, M Hughes, S Ennis; S Nicholson (0-2, 1 free), C Woods, C Taggart; D Hughes, D McManus; C Mageean (0-2), M Magee (0-2), M Ennis; C Egan (0-1), C O'Prey (0-4, 3 frees, 1 sideline), D Toner (0-3). Subs: P Sheehan (0-1) for S Nicholson (45), O McManus for D McManus (60), P McManus for J McManus (65).

REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)