Football

Saffrons snatch minor crown back from Down MATCH STATS

ANTRIM regained the Ulster minor hurling title in fine style as they ran out 11-point winners over defending champions Down.

The young Saffrons had to play with 14 men for virtually all of the game after midfielder Ryan McCambridge was shown a straight red card for striking Ruairi Campbell off the ball two minutes in, but this made no difference as Niall Kearney's charges were superior all over.

The performance of midfielder Alec Delargy was outstanding as he plugged the hole left by McCambridge's dismissal and landed three excellent points.

"I have to say what character they showed to go in eight points up at half-time," said Kearney.

"Every man did their job and it was tough there in the heat. To score

2-20 with 14 men is great and Alec Delargy there in the centre of the field was absolutely majestic."

Delargy hit the first point from play and this was sandwiched between two Conor Johnston frees for Antrim before Pearse Og McCrickard opened Down's account from 10th minutes free.

Down began to make some headway and the sides were level at 0-5 after 19 minutes.

Antrim upped it a gear, however, with Delargy and Cormac McAlister pointing before McCurdy hit his first goal as he tapped home the rebound after Down goalkeeper Sean Savage saved Saul McCaughan's initial effort. Conor Johnston then pointed before two goals inside a minute.

Firstly, Conal Fitzsimmons blasted home when played in by McCrickard, but this was immediately cancelled out when McCurdy read McAlister's delivery perfectly to rise and divert the sliotar into the net to help

Antrim into a 2-11 to 1-6 lead. The Saffrons picked up where they left off in the second half and hit three of the first four scores before Down's Conor Costello received his second yellow card on 40 minutes.

Down staged a mini revival and three excellent points from McCrickard and one from Ruairi Campbell cut the gap to eight.

However, they were never likely to get much closer and, over the last 10 minutes, Antrim scored four of the last five points through Johnston, McCaughan, McAlister and Delargy to regain the provincial title they surrendered to Down 12 months ago.

"The better team won," admitted Down selector Michael McCullough.

"I think it's a case of the Down boys going back now and working over the winter because there are 11 of them back as minors next year."

Antrim manager Niall Kearney heaped praise upon his players for their character after going a man down so early and said there was extra motivation after losing out in last year's final.

"We have a talented bunch of players there who want to win and give their all for the Antrim jersey," he said.

"Those boys fought tooth and nail for Antrim today and I'm proud of them. There was a real will-to-win there, especially after what happened last year."

Antrim: C Heyden; R Diamond, K O'Kane,

A Orchin; D O'Hara, P Burke, M Connolly;

R McCambridge, STARMAN: A Delargy (0-3); C McAlister (0-2), D Nugent, E McFerran; C Johnston (0-9, 0-6 frees), J McCurdy (2-2), S McCaughan (0-4).

Subs: G Walsh for R Diamond (47), J Duffin for D O'Hara (58), C McConnell for S McCaughan (60), C McNaughton for J McCurdy (60),

R McNulty for P Burke (60).

Down: S Savage; B Byers, C Taggart, J Doran;

R Campbell (0-2), PJ McComiskey, PJ Davidson (0-1); C Egan (0-1), J Murphy (0-1); R Courtney, C Costello, L Savage; C Fitzsimons (1-1),

E Sands, P Og McCrickard (0-6, 0-3 frees). Subs: R McCusker (0-1) for R Courtney (h-t),

C Fay for PJ McComiskey (h-t), M Patterson for

L Savage (55), D Gilliland for J Doran (55),

M Fisher for R Campbell (58).

Referee: James Clarke (Cavan)