Antrim silver comes at a cost as Clarke crocked

Antrim 3-26 Down 1-14

Goal scorer: Conor McCann got on the scoresheet for Antrim

By Tomas McGurk

Antrim claimed their first piece of silverware of the new season with a convincing 18-point win over Down in the Conor McGurk Cup final at The Dub.

Just three points separated the sides at the break with Nigel Elliott (Antrim) and Declan McManus (Down) finding the net for their respective sides.

However, the second half was one-way traffic as the Saffrons coasted to victory thanks to further goals from Conor McCann and the impressive Maol Connolly, while Down ended the game with 14 men after full-back Caolan Teggart was shown a second yellow for a wild challenge on substitute Eoin O'Neill.

Yet, the win came at a price for Antrim with corner-forward Ciaran Clarke being helped off the pitch after just 17 minutes after sustaining a leg injury.

Speaking after the game, Antrim boss Terence 'Sambo' McNaughton was unsure of the extent of the injury, but with All-Ireland champions Galway up next in the National Hurling League opener in less than two weeks' time, Clarke's participation is in serious doubt.

"At this point in time, I don't know how he is - we'll have to check with the physios," said McNaughton.

"I hope he is okay, but he was limping as he came off.

"That's sport and you have to deal with these things. With the way the games are coming this year, we are playing every other week and you are going to get injuries. More so this year than any other year, the panel is going to be tested - you aren't going to have your first 15 every week."

ANTRIM: C O'Connell; J Dillon 0-1, A Graffin, D Kearney; J Maskey, M Donnelly, P Burke; C McKinley, C Johnston 0-3; N Elliott 1-4, N McManus 0-8 (0-5f, 0-2 '65), M Connolly 1-7 (1-2fs); D McKinley 0-1, C McCann 1-01, C Clarke. Subs: E O'Neill for C Clarke (17mins), E Smyth for A Graffin (HT), D McCloskey for D McKinley (46mins), J McNaughton 0-1 for N McManus (49mins), D McGuinness for C Johnston (62mins).

DOWN: S Keith; P McManus, C Teggart, M Hughes; E Coulter, M Fisher, L Savage; C Bailie, D Toner 0-1; R Branagan 0-1, D McManus 1-0, P Og McCrickard 0-2, M Magee 0-1, P Sheehan 0-8 (0-7fs), E Sands 0-1. Subs: D Rooney for E Coulter (HT), B Byers for P McManus (44mins), M Patterson for Fisher (60mins).

Referee: T Conway (Derry)