ULSTER SHC FINAL Antrim 3-20 Down 4-15: NEITHER DOWN nor Antrim produced anything special during the first half of yesterday's final at Casement Park, but they must have been reserving their energies for a second period that turning into a cracker as Antrim eked out a two-point victory.
Goals by Shane McNaughton and Joey Scullion in the sixth and eighth minutes respectively helped Antrim to a 2-9 to 0-9 interval lead, but the defending champions were in for a mighty shock after the restart.
Paul Braniff hammered in a goal from a 20-metre free on 38 minutes and from there the Mourne men knuckled down to their task. Three minutes later, Stephen Clarke shot home from a centre by Simon Wilson and when Wilson landed another long-range free into the Antrim area Braniff again connected to rattle the net.
That left the scores tied at 2-12 to 3-9 after 42 minutes and from there to the finish it was hammer and tongs hurling with both teams expending every ounce of energy.
Another long-range free from Wilson put Down ahead for the first time, but roving Neil McManus equalised before Wilson pointed once more. McNaughton rifled in an Antrim goal on 48 minutes, but before the Saffron cheers died down Andy Savage had the ball in the Antrim net.
Karl Stewart sent over an Antrim free on 51 minutes to level the scores at 3-14 to 4-11 and points from play were swapped constantly as the sides were level again on 57 and 61 minutes. Then two superb points from Conor O’Prey and Braniff put Down in front with five minutes remaining.
The Mourne men looked on their way to their first provincial title since 2001, but Neil McManus hit a beauty and McKeegan hit the equaliser right on the 70 minutes, after McManus was pulled back on the end line. Michael Ennis was unfortunate to get a second yellow card for his action.
During the four minutes of injury-time McManus and McNaughton fired over the winning points for Antrim, a win the Saffrons just about deserved for their never-say-die attitude.
ANTRIM: R McGarry; K McGourty, N McGarry, A Graffin; S Delargy, C Donnelly, N McAuley; J Campbell, K McKeegan (0-5, all frees); B Herron, N McManus (0-3), S McNaughton (2-3); K Stewart (0-6, five frees), P Richmond (0-2), J Scullion (1-1). Subs: E McCloskey for Stewart (52 mins), M Herron for B Herron (52 mins).
DOWN: Graham Clarke; F Conway, S Murray, S Ennis; S Wilson (0-6, five frees), R McGrattan, M Ennis; A Savage (1-2), C O'Prey (0-1); G Johnston, C Woods (0-2), K Courtney; J Coyle (0-1), P Braniff (2-2, 1-0 free), S Clarke (1-1). Subs: M Coulter for Coyle (61 mins), K McGarry for O'Prey (67 mins), A Higgins for S Clarke (71 mins).
Referee: B Gavin(Offaly).
