USHC: Antrim make it 7 in a Row
Ulster SHC Final:
Antrim 3-19 Down 2-15
Antrim claimed their seventh Ulster title in a row thanks to a brilliant second-half display against Down at Casement Park on Sunday.
Down held the lead at the interval but were outdone by three second-half Antrim goals in an entertaining contest.
The Mourne men were dealt a serious blow ahead of the tie when Gareth Johnson was ruled out through injury and his attacking prowess was sorely missed in the second half when the Saffrons eased through the gears to run out comfortable seven point winners.
However, Johnson was not missed in the opening exchanges as Stephen Clarke bagged a goal after just seven minutes.
Down edged further ahead when Conor Woods grabbed a second 12 minutes later after he pulled on a Brendan McGourty sideline and rifled the ball to the back of the net.
Down went in at the break with a 2-5 to 0-10 lead after a superb first half display but Antrim hit back after the resumption thanks in the main to a Liam Watson goal after 39 minutes.
Watson stepped up to a 21-yard free and blasted the ball home, with Karl Stewart finding a second soon after following some great work by his Antrim teammates.
The killer blow came on 54 minutes when Paddy Richmond found a third after Stewart fed him with a clever ball.
Down went in search of goals in the closing minutes as they sought to salvage something from a great game but ultimately they came up short in the end as Antrim went on to claim the Ulster crown.
