Derry are through to the Ulster U21 hurling final following a sensational 2-11 to 3-6 defeat of holders Antrim at Owenbeg.

Tonight's dramatic semi-final was a repeat of the last two provincial finals in this grade and a couple of penalty goals from Cormac O'Doherty (2-5) in either half proved decisive as the hosts marched into the decider. The winners led by nine points with ten minutes left before Antrim rallied with a trio of late goals from James McNaughton, Eamon Smyth and Christy McNaughton.

But their nine-in-a-row bid has been derailed at the first hurdle and instead it's Collie McGurk's charges who advance to a third successive Ulster final, wherein they will be gunning for their first title since 2008, with opposition provided by Down (who easily defeated Armagh in tonight's other semi-final).

The home side had the better of a low-scoring, tense opening period that yielded just eight scores and O'Doherty's 24^th-minute goal had them ahead by 1-4 to 0-3 at the short whistle.

Derry duo Sean Cassidy and Corey Reilly registered the only two scores of the opening quarter and the Glensmen didn't score until the 18^th minute, courtesy of Christy McNaughton.

Darragh Cartin and full forward O'Doherty added to the Oak Leaf tally and James McNaughton tagged on Antrim's second before Slaughtneil ace O'Doherty netted his first penalty six minutes from the break to fire the hosts into a five-point lead, 1-4 to 0-2. James McNaughton raised the last flag before the break but Antrim had it all to do after the turnaround.

O'Doherty (2) and Brian Cassidy were on target as Derry hit three of the first points upon the restart, with Conor Carson on target at the other end; O'Doherty's superb point had the Oak Leafers ahead by eight after 42 minutes, 1-9 to 0-4.

James McNaughton's third point reduced the arrears at the start of the fourth quarter but the game was effectively done and dusted once the nerveless O'Doherty successfully converted his second penalty to leave nine points in it with ten minutes to go.

Cassidy and James McNaughton traded frees and the latter closed the gap to six with eight minutes left when he struck the first Antrim goal, only for Derry captain Ciaran Steele to reply. Smyth pulled back a second Antrim three-pointer from a free in the last minute of normal time but they had left it too late.

We had the most dramatic of finishes as Christy McNaughton plundered a third Antrim major in the third minute of injury time to reduce the arrears to just two points but Derry held on for a deserved victory. With Kilkenny awaiting the winners in an All-Ireland semi-final on August 19^th, Derry and Down are now preparing to lock horns in the northern decider for the first time since 2004.

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