Although Antrim were crowned Ulster Minor Hurling Champions in Casement Park on Saturday it was not the walk in the park they had come to expect in recent years. Down opened the scoring with a point from Paul Keith but found themselves 2-5 to 0-1 down after 10 minutes.

Antrim peppered Declan Ennis in the Down goals but he had both Padraig Flynn and the crossbar save him in the first half. The Antrim siege was broken by a long ball to James Coyle who beat his man and placed the ball expertly past the Antrim keeper. Whilst Antrim responded immediately with a point, Down maintained the pressure. Two excellent points from Paul Keith and Karl Maxwell boosted Down’s confidence and they ended 5 points adrift, 2-7 to 1-5.

Aidan Clarke tries to get a tackle in

Antrim opened the second half with a few points before Aidan Clarke’s persistence dispossessed the Antrim keeper and left him an easy tap to the net. Further Antrim points were cancelled out by a Conor Woods penalty and an excellent long range point from full back Alan Higgins left the scores level on 2-10 to 3-7 with 4 minutes left.

Whilst Antrim were content to settle for points Down maintained their search for goals. Despite several goal mouth scrambles and a spectacular save from the Antrim keeper they failed to put the ball in the net.

Whilst Antrim were fortunate to retain their title on a score line of 2-14 to 3-8, Down will rue missing their best opportunity in years.

Down: D Ennis, S Conlon, A Higgins (0-1), T Mc Manus, G Courtney, C Woods (1-1), P Flynn, D Ennis, P Mc Aleenan, P Keith (0-1), P O’ Neill, C Gilmore, J Coyle (1-3), N Fowler, M Magee

Subs Aidan Clarke 1-1, Karl Maxwell 0-1