SUPER middleweight boxing champion Steve Collins took 12 seconds to learn a harsh lesson when knocked to the floor in his title defence on Saturday night.
Ulster hurling champions, Antrim, took 15 seconds to hit the deck at Casement Park yesterday but the lesson dished out by Noel Sands’ opening goal was not adhered to.
The champions came back from the early blow but lost the title in a thrilling Ulster showdown in which the bridesmaid, Down, jilted the entire province.
It was an Ulster final difficult to digest at first.
No Terence McNaughton in the Antrim starting side.
Then Down rush into an early lead.
But the 3-14 to 0-19 result has handed Down hurling new life while the ash-clashing life span of MacNaughton may well have reached its conclusion.
This morning Down are Ulster champions and how they deserve that title.
On the field of play the red and black portrayed total commitment and desire, thanks largely to their critics, the so called experts among us, and those in the Mourne county who chose to stay at home.
Antrim had one winner, a largely significant one too.
Only he, Frank Dawson, was drinking to the tune of the Star of the County Down at the Balmoral Hotel last night.
Dawson, a Belfast St Gall’s club man, had emulated fellow county man Sean McGuinness, to bring the title to the peninsula.
McGuinness watched Dawson smile as he did in 1995.
The new Down boss in a jubilant changing room roped himself into buying the first round of celebratory drinks.
Milligan, M Braniff, M Mallon (Capt 0-1), T Coulter, G Savage (0-1), P Coulter, B Coulter (1- 0), M Bailie, G McGratton (1-3), M Coulter, J McCrickard, N Sands (1-9).
Subs: B Braniff for McCrickard (54).
Antrim: S Elliott, Ciaran McCambridge, E Colgan, S McIlhatton, S P McKillop, Gary O’Kane, P Jennings, J Connelly, P McKillen (capt), Conor McCambridge (0-1), Gregory O’Kane (0-2), A Mort (0-1), A Delargy (0-1), J Carson (0-13, 11 from frees), A Elliott (0-1).
Subs: T McNaughton for Jennings (13), J Close for Delargy (44), J Boyle for Gregory O’Kane (64).
Ref: Pat Horan (Offaly)
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UTV were last night unable to broadcast coverage of yesterday’s Ulster Senior Hurling Final at Casement Park after two attempts were made to hijack the company’s vans as they were travelling to the venue.
UTV did manage to get one camera into Casement Park and brief highlights of the match will be shown on UTV Live at Six programme.
A spokesman said that in the interest of their staff’s safety, it was decided to abandon efforts to cover the game fully.
But Down Hurling Secretary Jim Keenan was outraged that the game was not broadcast last night.
“It’s a disgrace that on this particular Sunday, one half of the community has been deprived of their culture and tradition.
“It’s unforgiveable. I hope people of a like mind will voice their opinions to the station in the coming days and let them know the strength of feeling which, I am sure, is not confined to the counties of Down and Antrim,” said Mr Keenan.
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LOUGHGIEL powered their way through to the Antrim senior camogie final with a brilliant first half of team play in Dunloy.
The Shamrocks were six points up by the end of the first quarter when Marion Carson and Cushendall hopes with a goal only to see it cancelled out immediately by Caitriona Higgins who added a further 1-2 in the next six minutes with Siobhan McCloskey forcing home Loughgiel’s third goal before the break.
At 3-8 to 1-0 down and with the wind advantage dying a little, Cushendall went for goals after the break but the Loughgiel defence was up to the task.
The game was over as a contest long before Grace McMullan’s goal 10 minutes from time.
Grace, Caitriona Higgins and Ursula Culbertson were superb for the winners who dominated in almost every sector.
Brenda McNeill and Ann McDonald did best to stem the tide of Loughgiel attacks.
Scorers
Loughgiel: Catriona Higgins 2-3, Grace McMullan 1-4, Siobhan McCloskey 1-0, Ursula Culbertson 0-2, Rosie Boyle 0-1, Claire McGarry 0-1
Cushendall: Marion Carson 1-1, Aileen Nelson 0-1
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THE first piece of Paul Close’s double Ulster championship jigsaw ambition was complete yesterday.
The talented Rossa man held high the Ulster Minor hurling championship trophy as the Saffrons sent Down packing with a 3-14 to 1-10 scoreline.
Captain Close now leads Antrim to the final stages of the All-Ireland minor championship and is hoping he will be heading to Croke Park as an Antrim Minor footballer.
It was largely due to his dual skills that Saffron football reached its first Ulster Minor final for 15 years, when they play Tyrone on July 20.
Unlike Antrim football’s trail this hurling final failed to demand the very best of
Antrim: D Quinn, M McCambridge, R McKenna, M Dallas, J Flynn (0-6), D Killop, T Maguire, T Magilligan (0-1), M Kerr, G Warde (1-1), C Kelly, E McNaughton (0-1), P Close (0-3 Capt), B McNaughton (1-1), C Magee (1-2)
Subs: R Greevy for B McNaughton, A Watt for Kerr, M McCullough for E McNaughton.
Down: K Keating, G Clarke, D Mason, M Donnelly (0-1), D Fitzsimmons, S Wilson (0- 1), M Savage, F McCann, M Craig (0-1), R McGrattan (Capt), C Branniff (0-1), B Murray (0-1), B Savage, R Crawford (0-1), P Milligan (0-4)
Subs: G Curran (1-0) for Clarke, F Clarke for Murray, G Carson for Savage. Referee: P Dunphy (Kilkenny)
