Antrim hurlers do the double

Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Final:
Antrim 1-15 Down 1-14

An injury time point from Conor McKinley edged out Down in an absorbing Ulster Senior Hurling Final at Owenbeg on Sunday.

A PJ O’Connell goal gave Antrim an early lead but Gareth Johnston found the top corner with a penalty to give Down a 1-9 to 1-6 lead at half time.

Antrim started the second half in brighter fashion and slowly clawed their way back into the game, with 3 points from Conor Carson leveling the game approaching injury time.

As both sides searched for a winner, it was McKinley who kept his composure to rifle over. Michael Turley did have an opportunity to force the draw but his effort just sailed wide and Antrim held on to secure their 14th Ulster title in a row.

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Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Hurling Championship Final:
Antrim 2-20 Derry 1-9

In the curtain raiser at Owenbeg, Antrim minors blew away their Derry counterparts to record a 14 point victory.

Antrim made the perfect start and raced into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after 10 minutes. Keelan Feeney flicked the ball to the Antrim net on 22 minutes to close the deficit to 1 point, but man of the match Christy McNaughton responded in kind from a 21m free 4 minutes later to open the gap to 1-10 to 1-4 at half time.

Antrim came out all guns blazing again in the second half and raced into an 8 point lead, a lead they would not relinquish.

Conor Patterson’s goal on 56 minutes sealed victory for the Saffron minors for the third year in a row.