Antrim's crown never in danger

Ulster SHC Final: Antrim 3-21 Derry 1-12 There was little danger Antrim would lose their Ulster crown at Casement Park on Saturday evening.

The final tally hardly reflects their dominance.

They shot 16 wides, 11 of them during the first half, when they were backed by the fresh breeze, and showed enough talent and sparkle to suggest they can be a major force in the championship.

"We have six weeks to prepare for the All-Ireland quarter-finals and we will work hard on our game. I'd also hope that we can arrange a match with some southern opposition in the meantime," said skipper Colm McGuckian.

Antrim were quicker to the breaking ball and showed more flair all over the field, particularly in attack, where Brian McFall's 2-9 equalled the Derry total.

Jim Connolly ruled midfield while the half-back line of Michael McCambridge, Karl McKeegan and Ciaran Herron easily mopped up the loose ball.

Two cracking goals inside two minutes by McFall, assisted both times by Colm McGuckian, were the highlights of the first half and eased Antrim into control. Derry opened smartly and went 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after seven minutes but McFall and Liam Richmond levelled the score two minutes later.

It was level again on 11 minutes but then Antrim shot four unanswered points in 10 minutes. They could have had more - Kieran Stevenson saved brilliantly from Liam Watson on 18 minutes and, on 23 minutes, with Stevenson stranded, Greg O'Kane fired wide.

Ollie Collins, Rory Convery and Michael Collins scored Derry points but the first Antrim goal arrived in the 29th minute with McGuckian squaring the ball to McFall and he rifling the sliotar to the net from 21 metres. And in the 31st minute, McGuckian knifed through the Derry defence and found McFall, who hammered in the second, while Jim Connolly, Liam Watson and Liam Richmond tagged on points.

The sides shared eight points in the third quarter, but then Antrim opened up again with McFall rifling four points and Paddy Richmond another to make it 2-20 to 0-12. Greg Biggs found the Antrim net on 68 minutes, but the cheers had hardly died when Aidan Delargy raced through at the other end for Antrim's third goal, then added a point.

ANTRIM: D Quinn; M Kettle, K Kelly, J Campbell; M McCambridge, K McKeegan, C Herron; C Cunning, J Connolly (0-1); P Richmond (0-3), C McGuckian (0-1), L Richmond (0-2); L Watson (0-4), G O'Kane, B McFall (2-9, 0-5 frees). Subs: A Delargy (1-1) for O'Kane, inj (half-time), P Close for McFall (68 mins).

DERRY: K Stevenson; P McVeigh, K McKeever, C McEldowney; D Magill, M Conway, P O'Kane (0-1); R Convery (0-1), P Carton; Greg Biggs (1-2), O Collins (0-6, 0-4 frees), R Kennedy (0-1); J O'Dwyer, M Collins (0-1), D McGrellis. Subs: B Ward for McVeigh (33 mins), A McCrystal for Carton (half-time), Gary Biggs for Kennedy (half-time), Cathal McKeever for McGrellis (48 mins), K Hinphey for McEldowney (52 mins),

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).