WITH Conor Johnston helping himself to 3-5 from open play, Antrim eased to a 5-22 to 1-12 victory in Sunday's Ulster Senior Hurling championship final at the expense of Armagh.
In truth, a 16th consecutive Ulster title for the Saffrons was never in doubt at any stage.
And with Johnston and Neil McManus both registering 1-4 from play in the first half, Armagh were dead and buried at the interval.
Both sides finished with 14 players, as Paddy Burke was sent off for Antrim after 50 minutes, and John Corvan was dismissed for Armagh with eight minutes to go.
In the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield final, Derry were 1-17 to 1-12 winners against Tyrone, and have reclaimed their place in the Ulster SHC for next season.
Ruairi Convery was unerring from dead balls and finished the day with 0-12 to his name. He needed to be, as big under-dogs Tyrone were level with the Oak Leafers early in the second half.
Gerald Bradley struck the crucial goal that gave Derry the lead late in the third quarter.
In the day's Allianz Hurling League action, Tipperary and Galway will contest this year’s decider after they overcame Wexford and Limerick respectively.
For Tipp, brothers Noel and John McGrath hit 2-2 each in the Premier County’s 5-18 to 1-19 defeat of Wexford.
The All-Ireland champions led 2-6 to 0-8 at half-time, but only led by two on 57 minutes.
But in a devastating six-minute scoring spell, they grabbed 2-4 without reply to emphatically settle matters.
The game was not without controversy as Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald, angry that James Breen had not been awarded a free, after which Tipperary scored their second goal, tussled with Jason Forde on the field.
In the other semi-final, Galway had too much for Limerick, the game finishing 1-21 to 1-11.
The Tribesmen had had to stage a second half comeback when these two sides met on March 26.
There was no need for such heroics on this occasion as they were on top from the off and led 0-13 to 1-5 at the break.
And, when Conor Cooney netted on 56 minutes to put them six clear, they really opened up – rifling over six of the last eight points of the game.
In Saturday’s All-Ireland U21 Football Championship semi-final action, Dublin got the better of Donegal 1-13 to 0-9 and Galway dumped out Kerry 2-14 to 2-10.
Just three points separated the young Dubs and Donegal at the break, before Dessie Farrell’s side turned in a dominant performance in the second half to run out easy winners.
Sean McMahon raised the only green flag of the game, which put the Leinster champions eight in front.
Galway meanwhile, laid the foundations for their somewhat surprising defeat of Kerry with a fantastic opening 10 minutes during which they nabbed 1-7 from just nine scoring attempts, including a goal after 24 seconds from Dessie Conneely.
Kerry did fight back in the second half, with Matthew O’Sullivan getting an early goal, but Galway were fully deserving of their win.
