Antrim still in the hunt for promotion

Down 1-14 Antrim 5-08

Antrim kept alive their hopes of reaching the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 final with this derby win over Down.

Full-forward Neil McManus grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick of goals at Ballycran.

McManus found the net on two occasions in the opening half, including a penalty, with Karl Stewart firing home the Saffrons' first goal.

Down were 3-04 to 0-05 behind at half-time, by which point they had had Eoin Clarke sent-off. Antrim's Eddie McCloskey was also shown a red card.

Down, whose only goal was scored by Paul Braniff, actually finished with 13 players. They had Fintan Conway dismissed in the closing stages.

Further goals from McManus and Stewart completed Antrim's fourth victory of the campaign. They host table toppers Limerick in the final round in two weeks' time.