Antrim 3-20 Down 4-15
DOWN'S bid to dethrone Ulster champions and fierce rivals Antrim failed in the heat of a stifling Casement Park.
A compelling high scoring thriller had fans from both camps swooning over the skilful contest that unfolded, mainly because of Down's determination not to capitulate to the old enemy as many pre-match predictions suggested.
Indeed had they been blessed with a little more good fortune Down would have been going into their Christy Ring showdown with Carlow as Ulster champions.
Although not entirely clinging on, plucky Down felt the pain of some enterprising and free scoring play from an adventurous Antrim side that was out to erase the memory of their ill fated Leinster Championship meeting with Dublin, which they lost by ten points, 2-16 to 0-12. Down's bewitching second half performance was purposeful and explosive.
They had come to compete and they did just that in the latter stages of the match as they fought like demons to unnerve the champs, but though the Saffrons wobbled, they regained their composure to snatch success.
Antrim made the first menacing moves with two early goals from Shane McNaughton and Joey Scullion.
These went a long way towards eventual victory as Antrim won the Liam Harvey Cup for the eighth year in succession.
Over the first half the Glens men held all the aces, totally dominating as Down were forced to feed of scraps. At the interval the score sat at 2-09 to 0-09 in Antrim's favour.
The accurate free taking of Simon Wilson kept Down in the mix at this stage.
Down's other scores came courtesy of Paul Braniff, Andy Savage, Conor Woods and James Coyle.
The McNaughton goal arrived after Graham Clarke brought off a magnificent reflex save, which rebounded to the inrushing Antrim forward who flicked the sliothar deftly into the corner of the net.
Joey Scullion's goal was unstoppable after he had rounded his marker to blast past the helpless Clarke to the roof of the net.
Whilst the game was hard hitting, to the credit of both teams not a dirty stroke was pulled, and it represented all that is good in Ulster Hurling and will stand both teams in good stead for their forthcoming games over the next two weeks.
Antrim face Laois on Sunday whilst Down contest the Christy Ring Cup final with Carlow on Saturday, July 11, in Croke Park.
A Paddy Richmond point on the restart looked ominous for Down but when referee Brian Gavin awarded the Red and Blacks a 20 metre free on the left wing and further punished Antrim by it moving directly in front of the goals, Paul Braniff stepped up to the mark and lashed a screamer to the net to give his side the fillip they so badly needed.
Karl Stewart, from a free, and another Richmond point saw Antrim regain their six-point advantage.
Down's remarkable recovery act continued when Stephen Clarke and Paul Braniff stitched the teams together on 3-09 to 2-12 score line.
These were opportunist goals in the true sense of the word as decisive, slick passing between Ruairi McGrattan, Gareth Johnson and Clarke gave the latter the necessary room to leave McGarry in the Antrim goal unable to prevent the sliothar nestling in his net.
The second was a result of a classic Down move, which has been common during many of their games this season; a long range Simon Wilson free to the edge of the square for Johnson to wreak havoc.
On this occasion the sliothar broke free to the lurking Braniff who deftly flicked it to the net for his second and Down's third goal, this all happening within seven minutes of the restart.
A Simon Wilson free lifted Down ahead for the first time in the match but the champions hit back with two unanswered points.
Then Andy Savage made a surging run and he flicked a one-two with Johnson before netting the goal of the game.
Shane McNaughton scored a goal for Antrim to leave the score after 14 minutes of the second half as Down 411, Antrim 3-14.
The remainder of the game saw both teams strained every sinew in an effort to win the game.
Both managements introduced fresh legs, Martin Coulter and Kevin McGarry for Down whilst Edie McCloskey and Michael Herron went on for Antrim.
As the game reached the final phase with five minutes plus added time remaining and the score on 4-15 to 317 Down suffered what turned out to be a crippling blow as Michael Ennis received a second yellow card and resulting red card from referee Gavin.
In the remaining period Antrim, through a McKeegan free and points from McManus and McNaughton, finished strongly to win by two points. It was heartbreak for Down and relief for Antrim.
Despite their defeat this was a very encouraging display by Down, which is undoubtedly a great boost of morale before the Christy Ring Final , which takes place in Croke Park in a couple on Saturday, July 11.