Antrim 4-21
Down 1-17

Antrim won the much-delayed 2013 Ulster hurling final in front of just 139 spectators at Celtic Park.

The paltry attendance reflected the lack of interest in the game which was originally fixed for July 7 last, and then November 3 before it finally went ahead this afternoon. Down trailed by just four points at the break, 1-7 to 2-8, but tired in the second half as they began to feel the effects of yesterday's Kehoe Cup semi-final, which they also lost to Kildare.

Goals from Ciaran Johnston and captain Neil McManus had the holders in the driving seat before Danny Toner netted for the Ardsmen to keep them in contention at half-time.

But with Paul Sheehan in fine scoring form, the fresher Saffrons pulled away in the second half.

Antrim - S McToal; B McFall, C McKinley, M Bradley; S McCrory (0-2), N McAuley, Ciaran Johnston (1-0); E Campbell, J McGreevy; N McKenna (0-2), C Carson (0-4), P Shiels (0-6, 2f); D McKernan, N McManus (1-5, 0-2f), C Clarke (0-1f). Subs: S McAfee for McGreevy, Conor Johnston (1-1) for McKernan, D Hamill (1-0) for Clarke, N Elliott for McKenna.

Down - S Keith; R Brannigan, P Flynn, S Ennis; B Nicholson, C Woods (0-2f), J McGrath (0-2); D Hughes, M Hughes; P Sheehan (0-8, 7f), C O'Neill (0-1), B Coleman; M Turley (0-2), S Dineen (0-1), D Toner (1-0). Subs: C O'Prey for Coleman, M Ennis for Turley, C Dorrian (0-1) for O'Neill, C Taggart for Brannigan, C Hughes for Sheehan.

Referee - E Hassan. Tweet

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