Antrim: 4-21, Sligo:0-10,
Sligo's U-17 hurlers travelled to one of the homes of hurling and got a taste of the impact of competing at a higher level that before when they were on the wrong side of a strong Antrim performance at the Antrim GAA Centre of Participation in Dunsilly on Easter Saturday evening.
The difference in standard was obvious from the opening minutes when Antrim got a dream start with a goal from their corner forward, Oran Mc Cambridge.
This was quickly followed by a second goal, initially saved by Brian Woods but scored on the rebound.
Sligo got their first score after eleven minutes , a point from Michael Mc Donagh to leave the score Antrim 2-3, Sligo 0-1. By the time the same player added a second Sligo's second point, a wonderfully taken shot from distance., Antrim had added a third goal to their tally.
Sligo performed better in the latter stages of the first half with all the scores coming from Patrick Walsh , a point from play, two frees and a 65" to bring the half time the score to Antrim 3-9, Sligo 0-7 with the goals making the difference. Michael Mc Donagh and Conor Lang were also very effective for the Yeats county in this period
With the advantage of the breeze in the second half Antrim notched up four consecutive points before Michael Mc Donagh got Sligo's first in response
The result of the game was never in doubt as Sligo struggled with Antrim's dominance, particularly their half forward line.
Patrick Walsh got Sligo's only remaining scores from frees in this half. To their credit Sligo worked hard but could do little to catch their opponents.
Sligo: Brian Woods ( Easkey); Thomas Hargadon ( Naomh Eoin), Neil Kelly ( Western Gaels), Jack Mc Daniel (Coolera/Strandhill); Oisín Moylan (Easkey), Michael Costigan (Calry/St.Joseph's)joint capt, Ryan O'Donnell (Western Gaels); Fiachra Haughey( Tourlestrane), Conor Lang (Western Gaels)joint capt; Patrick Walsh (Easkey)(0-7(5f 65") Michael Mc Donagh (Easkey)(0-3) ]Thomas Sheridan ( Western Gaels); Oisín Whelan (Coolera/ Strandhill), Luke Tuffy(Western Gaels), Rory Connellan (Naomh Eoin).
TJ Foody (Western Gaels), Corey Vereker (Easkey), Thomas Kinnane (Coolera/ Strandhill), Shane Mc Donagh (Drumcliffe/ RossesPoint), Harry Cawley (Naomh Eoin), James Lynch (Coolera/Strandhill), Shane O'Loughlin (Coolera/Strandhill), James Conway (Easkey), Mark Keena(Coolera/ Strandhill).