O'Hare's Antrim shock Cavan in Ulster SFC

Antrim 2-9, Cavan 1-10 (full-time)

Paul O'Hare was the happiest man in Casement Park as he launched his managerial career with a shock Ulster Football Championship win over Cavan, and watched his son Darren score both goals.

The 21-year-old full forward fisted home two first half gems to set the Saffrons up for a crack at Tyrone in the semi-finals.

While they had to hang on nervously in the face of Cavan's late revival, Antrim fully deserved their two points win.

They showed greater hunger throughout, their workrate vastly superior to that of their opponents.

But Cavan can point to a woeful tally of 18 wides as the key reason for their latest championship failure, several of them from straightforward scoring opportunities.

Antrim's pacy attackers stretched a hesitant Cavan defence right from the start, with Madden punishing every indiscretion with his accurate free kicking.

And it was Madden who sent in the probing delivery which O'Hare punched to the net in the10th minute.

Dermot McCabe got Cavan's first score in the 14th minute, and they had to wait another 14 minutes for their next, also from the flame-haired midfielder.

In the meantime Antrim, with Mark McCrory and Martin McCarry winning the midfield battle, continued to attack with a refreshing directness, and posted further scores through Madden and Kevin McGourty to lead by 1-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.

Mattie Kerrigan's side did manage to swing the balance in their favour in the final 10 minutes of the half, but still relied exclusively for scores on McCabe, who hit the target three times, twice from play, to close the gap to five.

But Casement Park came alive in the fourth minute of injury time when O'Hare flicked home his second goal, again from Madden's probing cross and a Paul Brady assist.

The Saffrons were in a commanding position at the break, ahead by 2-6 to 0-4, and succeeded in stifling Cavan's attacking efforts in the early stages of the second half.

Substitute Philip Smith added a cutting edge to the Breffni attack, hitting two points, with Paul Brady and Larry Reilly narrowing the gap further.

But Antrim, with Colm Brady and Sean Kelly defensive heroes, continued to hit scores on the breakaway through Joe Quinn and Kelly.

And they had goal chances. First Aaron Donohue saved superbly from Madden, then substitute Rory O'Loan fired wide.

Both sides were reduced to 14 men when Cavan's Larry Reilly and Antrim midfielder Mark McCrory were sent off in separate incidents for second bookable offences, before McCabe punched home a goal to set up a thrilling finish.

Now just two points in front, Antrim lived dangerously, Sean McGreevy had to be at his best to keep out another McCabe effort, but they held on for victory and a place in Ulster's last four.