Antrim take advantage after Down run out of steam

Antrim 4-21
Down 1-17

Antrim were crowned 2013 Ulster senior hurling champions yesterday in front of just over 100 spectators at Celtic Park.

It was a hollow victory for the Saffrons, who collected their 53rd provincial title, while Down were left counting the cost after a bruising weekend with star forward Gareth Johnston suffering a suspected cruciate knee ligament injury during Saturday's Kehoe Cup semi-final defeat to Kildare.

Antrim led from the start and were 2-8 to 1-7 ahead at half-time. Ciarán Johnston scored their opening goal in the fifth minute and captain Neil McManus added a second.

Second game
Danny Toner replied for Down who scored the last three points of the half. Paul Sheehan scored eight points for Down, seven from frees.

Considering many of their players were involved in their second game in 24 hours, Down competed well and only trailed by three points with 20 minutes to go.

However they tired in the closing stages and Antrim pulled away with McManus wreaking havoc at full-forward and Paul Shiels another big attacking threat.

Darren Hamill and Conor Johnston got Antrim’s third and fourth goals.

Conor O'Prey received a straight red card for Down late on for a wild pull on Simon McCrory to complete a miserable weekend for them.

ANTRIM: S McToal; B McFall, C McKinley, M Bradley; S McCrory (0-2), N McAuley, Ciarán Johnston (1-0); E Campbell, J McGreevy; N McKenna (0-2), C Carson (0-4), P Shiels (0-6, 0-2 frees); D McKernan, N McManus (1-5, 0-2 free), C Clarke (0-1, free). Subs: S McAfee for McGreevy (26 mins), Conor Johnston (1-1) for McKernan (half-time), D Hamill (1-0) for Clarke (54 mins), N Elliott for McKenna (62 mins).
DOWN: S Keith; R Brannigan, P Flynn, S Ennis; B Nicholson, C Woods (0-2, 2f), J McGrath (0-2); D Hughes, M Hughes; P Sheehan (0-8, 0-7 frees), C O'Neill (0-1), B Coleman; M Turley (0-2), S Dineen (0-1), D Toner (1-0). Subs: C O'Prey for Coleman (half-time), M Ennis for Turley (half-time), C Dorrian (0-1) for O'Neill (56 mins), C Taggart for Brannigan (59 mins), C Hughes for Sheehan (64 mins).
Referee: Eamon Hassan (Derry).