Antrim stride to Ulster title

Antrim 4-22 Down 1-12

Antrim brushed Down aside to secure their ninth successive Ulster Senior Hurling Championship title at Casement Park this afternoon.

Having lost out to Offaly in the Leinster Championship, the Saffrons got back on the winning trail in their home province.

Liam Watson (1-4) and Karl McKeegan (1-3) lead the scoring as the defending champions took a landslide 2-15 to 0-3 interval lead.

Dinny Cahill's men, who are hoping to make their mark in the All-Ireland qualifiers, powered clear on the scoreboard before injury-hit Down were able to open their account through Paul Braniff in the 14th minute.

The Mourne men had Braniff back from injury, while Antrim handed Sean Delargy his first start of the year and Aaron Graffin and Neal McAuley, who are both in America, and the injured Joey Scullion (broken finger) were among their absentees.

Braniff, Conor O'Prey, Stephen Clarke and Andy Savage were among the leading lights for Down on the day but they were fighting an uphill battle.

Antrim's opening points came from Watson, McKeegan, Ciaran Herron and Shane McNaughton, who starred in midfield, as they moved ominously into a 0-7 to 0-0 lead.

The goals from Watson and McKeegan effectively put the result beyond doubt and ended the final as a contest by the half-hour mark.

A Paul Keith goal salvaged some pride for injury-hit Down, but McKeegan and PJ O’Connell both netted to complete Antrim’s latest provincial success, which saw team captain Paul Shields lift the trophy afterwards.

The Saffrons are back in action next Saturday in a qualifier clash with Carlow at the same Belfast venue (throw-in 3.30pm).