Derry's challenge fails to get out of the blocks

Ulster MHC/ Antrim 3-18 Derry 2-7 : After eight minutes in yesterday's Ulster minor hurling final at Casement Park, Antrim had…

Ulster MHC/ Antrim 3-18 Derry 2-7: After eight minutes in yesterday's Ulster minor hurling final at Casement Park, Antrim had all but secured their place in the All-Ireland quarter-final. By then the home team led Derry by 3-2 to no score.

Paul Shields rifled in the opening goal on two minutes, Barry McFall hit the second after seven minutes and 60 seconds later Shields again rattled the Derry net.

Derry raised their first flag from a free in the ninth minute, but a flow of nine unanswered points before Ben Dodds managed another Derry strike left the home side 3-11 to 0-2 ahead at the break.

The losers were much better in the third quarter, highlighted by a Kevin O'Neill goal in the 40th minute and they scrambled another late goal through Anton O'Hara to put a better look to the scoreboard.

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ANTRIM: C McCann; M Devlin, N McAuley (0-1, a 65), E O'Neill; A Smylie, C Donnelly, R McDonnell (0-1); O McFadden (0-1), P McGill (0-5, all frees); S McNaughton (0-3), C Duffin (0-1), E McCloskey (0-1); P Doherty (0-1), B McFall (1-1), P Shields (2-1). Subs: R McDonnell for McCloskey (39 mins), C Maskey for Smylie (39 mins), C Ó Cairseallain for Devlin (51 mins), S Casey (0-2) for Doherty (51 mins).

DERRY: R Treacy; P McKenna, M Craig, N O'Doherty; D Brunton, SL McGoldrick, K Lagan, M Kirkpatrick (0-2, one free), K O'Neill (1-0); S McNicholl, B Dodds (0-1), S Dodds (0-2, one free); R Kealey (0-1), O McCloskey, P Henry. Subs: S Henry for McKenna (11 mins), G Kelly (0-1) for McNicholl (38 mins), A O'Hara (1-0) for McCloskey (52 mins), C McDaid for Henry (52 mins).

Referee: J O'Rourke (Monaghan).