19 July 2012
Antrim booked their place in the final of the Ulster Under 21 Hurling Championship when they beat Armagh in Wednesday evening’s semi-final at Pairc Esler, Newry.
In a repeat of last year’s final the Saffron’s got off to a great start with a point from eighty metres from centre-half back Matthew Donnelly and when team captain Conor McCann fired in a goal in the fourth minute they were in a strong position.
However what appeared to be plain sailing proved anything but as Armagh began to find their feet and with full-forward Conor Corvan picking off the points from frees they kept in touch and trailed by just four at the break (1-7 to 0-6).
That margin could well have been closer had it not been for a fine save from Antrim goalkeeper James O’Mullan in the twenty-sixth minute, and the Rasharkin man was called upon again early in the second-half to deny the Orchard county’s corner-forward Danny Magee after Corvan had worked an opening.
That was to be Antrim’s last real threat and with McCann, Mickey Devlin, James Black and Stephen McAfee all finding the target up front they slowly but surely stretched their advantage and eventually ran out winners by 1-17 to 0-11.
ANTRIM – James O’Mullan, Christopher Murray, Ronan Gillan, Fergus Donnelly, James McShane, Matthew Donnelly, James McCouaig, Aiden McKeown, Stephen McAfee, Mickey Devlin, Kevin McKernan, James Black, Stephen Smith, Conor McCann, Nigel Elliott.
SUBS – Conor Laverty for Elliott; Eoin McAlonan for McKernan; Paddy McNaughton for Aiden McKeown; Jude Savage for Smith.