Ulster U20 Hurling Cup final
Derry 2-15 Antrim 2-12
ANTRIM were clear favourites to retain the Ulster under 20 hurling Cup when they welcomed Derry to Corrigan Park on Saturday. But Derry had other ideas and led practially from pillar to post – responding well to Ronan Edgar’s second goal seven minutes from time.
That score brought the game level but Derry outscored their opponents by 0-5 to 0-2 in the time remaining to seal victory and passage into the Leinster A championship.
The season isn’t over for Antrim though as they will start the All-Ireland under 20 B championship as favourites to land the title.
The teams were level after the first two scores before Man of the Match James Friel and Odhrán McElhinney put the visitors ahead. Cormac McKeown responded with a point before Edgar’s first goal in the 9th minute.
Derry hit back immediately with a goal and four points in the next ten minutes to take control, Ruairí Ó Mianáin’s perfect strike from a 20 metres free hitting the net and it was followed by a second goal from Eamon Cassidy.
Although Antrim responded with points from McKeown and two McGarry frees, they were still four adrift at the break.
Ó Mianáin pointed a free on the re-start, but Antrim dominated for a period of around 20 minutes with Niall McGarrel, McKeown and McGarry closing the gap to two points. Derry weathered the storm until Edgar’s second goal and a point from a Joe McLaughlin free levelled the game.
However the Oak Leaf hit back with three points from James Friel frees and another from Ben Kealey to dethrone the champions.
Derry
R Ó Mianáin 1-3, 1-1 frees, E Cassidy 1-0, J Friel 0-7 frees, O McElhinney 0-2, S Melaugh, A Duffin and B Kealy 0-1 each
Antrim
R Edgar 2-0, J McLaughlin 0-6, 3 frees, A McGarry 0-3, 2 frees, C McKeown 0-2, N McGarrel 0-1