Too easy for Antrim as they ease to their ninth title in succession

Ahead from the opening minute when Liam Watson pointed a real beauty from out near the sideline, Antrim were in total control throughout the match and led by 0-7 to no score after ten minutes. Down eventually opened their account with a point from a Paul Braniff free in the twelfth minute but Antrim hit back and by the twentieth minute they had opened an embarrassing 1-12 to 0-1 lead, the goal coming from Liam Watson after a goalmouth scramble.

There was no respite for the Down men as Karl McKeggan hammered in his team's second goal and by half-time the game was as good as over as Antrim led by 2-15 to 0-3.

The second-half saw more of the same and after Down pulled back an early point Antrim responded with two more goals from Karl McKeegan and PJ O'Connell. The Antrim management then made a series of substitutions, obviously with an eye on next weekend's All Ireland qualifier against Carlow, and two of their top men Shane McNaughton and Liam Watson were called ashore.

Down did come a little more into it in the final quarter and they gained some consolation when Paul Keith goaled in injury time, but by then it was too-little too-late as the destiny of the Liam Harvey Cup had long since been decided.

Just where the Ulster championship goes from here is anyone's guess. There is no doubt the current system has ran its course and changes must be made to maintain any interest in the competition. When Antrim and Down met in the 1990 final there were almost 10,00 hurling fans in Casement Park, on Sunday there was only a few hundred. Moving the final around to different venues may be an idea, and in truth it seems a little unfair to hand the favourites and champions an advantage every year by giving them home advantage.

As what this will do for Antrim's preparations for next weekend's meeting with Carlow in the All Ireland qualifiers it is hard to say. They looked really sharp today, especially in the opening half, but it has to be said the quality of the opposition has to be taken into account.

They were always in control at the back when Cormac Donnelly, Paul Shiels, Sean Delargy and Johnny Campbell were impressive. Shane McNaughton was excellent at midfield while Watson, Neill McManus and Karl McKeegan were in great form up front.

ANTRIM – Chris O'Connell, Kieran McGourty, Cormac Donnelly, Sean Delargy, Paul Shiels (capt), Johnny Campbell, Ciaran Herron, Shane McNaughton, Karl Stewart, Com McFall, Thomas McCann, Liam Watson, PJ O'Connell, Neil McManus, Karl McKeegan.

Subs used – Barry McFall, Simon McCrory, Mark Devlin, James McKeague

DOWN – Graham Clarke, Paddy Hughes, Stephen Murray, Sean Ennis (capt), Darren Flynn, Fintan Conway, Michael Ennis, Andy Savage, Ciaran Coulter, Connor Woods, Stephen Clarke, Eoin Clarke, James Coyle, Paul Braniff, Johnny McCusker.