Ulster SFC Quarter-final: Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams joined in the celebrations of a historic Antrim victory in which his son Gearóid played his part at Casement Park yesterday. Adams senior, smiling as broadly as any of his countymen, said: "It was great, I am very pleased, they all played so well."

Antrim's use of the short-fisted pass combined with the long delivery into their front line was a ploy that Cavan could not match in a game which saw a fresh-approach Antrim team hold the lead for the entire encounter.

Cavan had to play the last quarter with only 14 players following the dismissal of their attack leader Larry Reilly, who was red-carded by Kildare referee Michael Monahan following consultation with a linesman.

Those not privy to the training-ground methods of manager Paul O'Hare were dismissing Antrim's two first-half surprise goals as anything ranging from snap scores or opportunist scores to even freak scores.

There is no question about the impact both scores, netted by the manager's son, 6ft 5 ins Darren O'Hare, had on the final result. And neither score came against the run of play.

Manager O'Hare wished to put the matter straight.

"We have concentrated on the passing in our support game in training but we planned to vary it with the long ball into the tall men up front."

The latter gambit was the one that clearly saw off the Cavan challenge, though the favourites did so much to unhinge their own bid with no less than 17 wides, some of them from close range.

The overall scenario saw Antrim take the game to their opponents with slick movements, executed with speed and accuracy that generally left Cavan struggling to cope.

It would have been a great injustice had Jason Reilly, who risked aggravating a leg injury by coming in as a substitute, scored a snap goal in the dying moments of a game that was generally controlled with great composure and authority by Antrim.

Reilly's deadly shot was blocked in a crowded goalmouth before the ball went wide.

Not long before this scare for the home side, Kevin Madden - who kicked five points, four from frees - was equally unlucky not to have Antrim's third goal. Only a brilliant foot save by the advancing Cavan goalkeeper, Aaron Donohoe, denying the influential Madden.

Cavan manager Mattie Kerrigan said that Antrim's two first-half goals proved the difference between the sides but he added he was very disappointed with the outcome and agreed that Antrim were the better team on the day.

The two crucial O'Hare goals came in the 10th minute and in injury time at the end of the first half.

Both scores were achieved in similar fashion with Madden providing the opportunity with high, lofted centres for the tall and strong O'Hare to do the business on the Cavan goalline.

Madden also confirmed that the long-ball strategy was part of the team's preparation.

Manager O'Hare insists that the variation of tactics is important. "Playing the short passing movements all the time makes you vulnerable," he said.

The Antrim manager is thrilled with the chance of playing against Tyrone in the semi-final. "We played them in the McKenna Cup and went down but we have come on a great deal since then and I cannot wait to face the challenge," he said.

Cavan, having been outplayed in midfield for so long in opposition to Mark McCrory and Martin McCarry, opted for a last throw of the dice by moving Dermot McCabe to full forward.

The strong Gowna man was no sooner in the position than he finished an effort by Mark McKeever to the net two minutes into injury time. That proved to be the last score but Jason Reilly went close to snatching it at the death.

Cavan had 10 first-half wides against two for Antrim and trailed without much hope by 2-6 to 0-4 at the interval, McCabe accounting for his side's tally at this stage with two of the points coming from frees.

ANTRIM: S McGreevy; G Adams, C Brady, N Ward; S Kelly (0-1), T Convery, A Finnegan; M McCrory, M McCarry; J Quinn (0-1), K Brady, K McGourty (0-2); P McCann, D O'Hare (2-0), K Madden (0-5, four frees). Subs: R O'Loan for Quinn 58 mins.

CAVAN: A Donoghoe; C Collins, T Prior, J Jordan; A Forde, P Reilly, M McKeever (0-1); D McCabe (1-5, three frees), S Maguire; Paul Brady (0-1, free), L Reilly (0-1), P McKenna; M Graham, Pat Brady, P Galligan. Subs: F O'Reilly for Maguire 21 mins; J Reilly for Pat Brady 36 mins; P Smith (0-2) for Galligan 41 mins; S Brady for Graham 54 mins; D Prior for Paul Brady 65 mins.

Referee: M Monaghan (Kildare).