Ulster SHC final/ Antrim 2-22 Down 0-20: Antrim once again proved that they are the masters of hurling in Ulster when they claimed their fourth Guinness Ulster senior championship title in a row at Casement Park yesterday.
The holders racked up a massive 2-22 scoreline to defeat Down who must be disappointed with their display. More was expected from the Mournemen who, despite scoring 20 points, were never really in the game with a chance of winning.
Antrim had the answers in most departments with their defence solid. Centre back Johnny Campbell marshalled his comrades, while Johnny McIntosh, used as a utility man, performed heroics wherever he popped up.
McIntosh started at midfield and rifled over three excellent long-range points during Antrim's early supremacy, but finished the game at left corner forward and still found his scoring touch.
Down's "Magic" Johnston was well curtailed up front and it took the deadly accuracy of Martin Coulter, from frees, to keep them within striking distance.
The stocky Coulter tossed over 11 points - 10 of them from placed balls - but it was far from enough to wrest the title from Antrim.
By the 12th minute, after McIntosh's three long-range points in a row, Antrim led by six points to one and when long-striking Johnny Campbell and Karl McKeegan pointed frees the writing was already on the wall for Down.
However, the losers began to get their act together. Johnston, Eoin Clarke and Coulter pointed to narrow the gap by the 21st minute and in the final 14 minutes of the first half Down matched Antrim's five additional points to leave the half-time score at Antrim 0-14, Down 0-9.
That gap was far from unassailable, but only seconds after the resumption danger signals flashed again for the challengers.
McIntosh sliced through on a defence-splitting run that seemed certain to produce a goal, but as he was about to fire for the net he was hooked and the sliotar was scrambled away. It was only temporary relief, however, for Down as Michael Herron pointed a free and Joe Scullion added another home point.
Ger Adair, Eoin Clarke and Coulter kept the game alive with Down points, but then came a hammer blow to the visitors.
Antrim substitute Karl Stewart fired a netbuster to the Down goal and the St Gall's player immediately added a point. Paddy Richmond increased the winners' lead to nine points and the silverware was staying where it was.
Coulter was on target with three more points, but when full back Gavin Bell took a Down goal attempt off the line to safety the contest was really over.
In the 53rd minute Stewart found his skipper Jim Connolly inside the opposing defence and the Rossa man hit the Down net from close range to earn a commanding 2-19 to 0-16 lead.
ANTRIM: D Quinn; M Kettle, G Bell, C Hamill; G Cunningham, J Campbell (0-3, 0-1 65, 0-1 free), M McCambridge; P Richmond (0-2), M Scullion (0-1); K McKeegan (0-4, all frees), K Kelly, M Herron (0-1 free); J McIntosh (0-7), J Connolly (1-1), J Scullion (0-2). Subs: K Stewart (1-1) for Kelly (34 mins), C Herron for M Herron (48 mins), B McFall for J Scullion (56 mins), C McGuckin for Cunningham (65 mins).
DOWN: Graham Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, P Hughes; Gabriel Clarke, G Savage, S Wilson (0-1, 65); G Adair (0-2), A Savage; B McGourty (0-1), P Monan, E Clarke (0-2); M Coulter (0-11, 0-10 frees), G Johnston (0-2), J McCusker (0-1). Subs: C Coulter for Hughes (13 mins), J Convery for Monan (39 mins), E Trainor for McCusker (66 mins).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).
