Antrim captain Cormac Donnelly wasn't in the least bit surprised by how well Armagh played in last night's Bord Gais Energy Ulster U21HC final.

Hot favourites Antrim had to pull out all the stops to win by 0-21 to 0-16, and afterwards Donnelly said: "We always knew it was going to be tough, we weren't expecting anything else.

"We weren't allowed to settle and fair dues to Armagh, they are an up-and-coming county in hurling and long may it continue. I have no doubt that they will be contesting senior finals in the not-too-distant future."

Defeated Armagh captain Nathan Curry felt Antrim's greater experience proved decisive.

"We battled all the way, At half-time we went in a point down and we know we had it all to do," he said.

"But we came out, we were two or three points up midway through the second half and Antrim pulled away in the last five minutes or so - maybe with a bit of experience behind them." Tweet

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