Antrim deserved more than a 215 to 2-9 win over Carlow in this `B' Football Championship semi-final at Casement Park yesterday. It was a late goal and a point for the visitors which closed the gap.

Antrim forwards were unusually on target shooting only one wide in the first half. In a blistering start Kevin Brady cracked home an Antrim goal after only 35 seconds and four minutes later Pat Nolan performed the same feat for Carlow.

The teams were level twice more before the 11th minute but then Antrim slipped into shooting gear with six unanswered points to lead 1-8 to 1-2 after 24 minutes. Antrim led 1-8 to 1-6 at the interval.

When Madden fired to the visitors' net in the 61st to leave it 2-14 to 1-8 the game ended as a contest. Carlow were a bit weak at the back and only Sean Kavanagh and Pat Nolan in attack looked dangerous throughout.

Antrim: S McGreevy; C McKearney, M Mulholland, P McCann (0-1); E McLarnon, A Finnegan, G Adams (0-2); J Barr, D Niblock; K Brady (1-1), J Quinn (0-1), E Doherty (0-2); C McCabe, R Hamill, K Madden (1-8). Subs: E McKenna for Hamill (47 mins), R O'Loane for McCabe (64 mins), J Derby for Nib lock (65 mins).

Carlow: J Clarke; B Farrell, T Brennan, V Fleming; J Kavanagh, J Byrne , S O'Brien; J Morrissey, R Donnelly (0-1); P Nolan (1-0), S Kavanagh (1-2), P Kingston (0-2); B Kelly (0-2), J Nevin, M Dowling (0-2). Subs: C Kelly for Brennan (50 mins), T Shiel for Kelly (51 mins), J Hughes for Dow ling (65 mins).

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).