The Guinness
Ulster SHC final will go to a replay after Down
and defending champions Antrim fought out tense
a 1-15 to 1-15 draw at Casement Park on Sunday.
Antrim went into the game as the clear favourites,
but the Allianz NHL Division Two champions produced
a stirring rally in the final quarter to reel
the Saffrons in and then stay on level terms.
The early lead went to Antrim, who stormed into
a 0-3 to no score lead before Michael Herron smashed
home a goal in the 13th minute to push them further
ahead. However, Down clawed their way back into
the game, closing the gap to three points, 1-7
to 0-7, before Gareth Johnson was pulled to the
ground to earn a penalty.
Team captain Martin Coulter made no mistake from
the spot to level the scores, but before the half-time
whistle Antrim corner forward shot over the bar
to edge the Saffrons in front at the break.
However, slim as their advantage was, Antrim wasted
little time in taking the initiative in the second
half, moving 1-11 to 1-9 before their lead further.
But Down, lead by a great performance from Gary
Savage, clawed their way back and drew level at
1-13 to 1-13.
Conor McGuckian handed Antrim the lead again with
a point, but Shane Wilson cancelled that score
out before Gabriel Clarke repeated that feat in
cancelling out McFall's score in injury time.
ANTRIM:
D Quinn; G Cunningham, K Kelly, B Herron; M McCambridge,
K McKeegan (0-1, 0-1 free), J Campbell; C Herron,
J Connolly; M Herron (1-1), C McGuckian (0-1),
L Richmond; Darren Quinn (0-4), P Richmond (0-3),
B McFall.(()-5, 0-2 freea).
Subs; L Watson for L Richmond (45 mins), M Kettle
for Cunningham (54 mins), J McIntosh for Connolly
(65 mins).
DOWN:
Graham Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, JH Hughes;
S Wilson (0-1, 0-1 free), G Savage (0-1, 0-1 free),
Gabriel Clarke; G Adair (0-1); A Savage (0-1);
G McGrattan (0-1), J Convery (0-1), B McGourty
(0-2), M Coulter (1-1, 1-0 pen); G Johnson (0-4,
0-2 frees), M Braniff.
Subs: S Clarke (0-2, 0-2 frees) for Braniff (21
mina), E Dorrian for Hughes (26 mins), E Trainor
for McGrattan (60 mins), E Clarke for Johnson
(64 mins).
Referee:
M Haverty (Galway).
Taken from GAA Website
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