Antrim took a lead within the first minute from a long range effort. Almost immediately they doubled their lead from the resulting puck out. Tyrone had not yet settled into the game when and a scrappy goal for the visitors extended their advantage. The next five minutes saw both teams have their fair share of the play but Antrim’s long play was proving bountiful and another goal and a point put them nine points clear with only ten minutes gone.

Tyrone’s inspirational captain Emma McAliskey got her team on the scoreboard on thirteen minutes. Antrim then struck again and took another goal as their forwards showed blistering pace. It was all too easy for the visitors as they took two more points in quick succession.

Sally McDonald for the red hands sent over a fine point from 50 metres out for the Red Hands and this score was followed quickly by another from McAliskey.

However Antrim remained the more clinical side with their passing and added two further goals and points in the remaining minutes.

Half Time Tyrone 0-3 Antrim II’s 5-7

A transformed Tyrone team got the second half underway and started the task to claw back the deficit. Tyrone dominated the opening exchanges around the middle of the park and Emma Fitzgerald  took a point to start the comeback. McAliskey ever present in the opponents half saw her long range effort hit the back of the net and another free would add to her tally with only five minutes of the half gone.

Antrim still had that precision in their passing and any free space was punished as they added two more points. They added another goal from close range to keep a healthy lead. Tyrone still had lots of the play and McDonald again took another point half way through the second half. Laurissa O’Neill scored her first point of the game shortly after. Caoimhe Rafferty then broke clear and an excellent goal would give the scoreboard a more respectable appearance.

The ever present McAliskey launched the sliotar goal bound from over 50 metres and the scoreboard narrowed again as it hit the back of the net with eight minutes remaining. However with energy levels dropping the game petered out and a free and a 45 gave the visitors two more points as the final whistle blew. Antrim II’s will now play Derry II’s in a repeat of the Senior final played last week.

Full Time Tyrone  3-7 Antrim II’s 6-11

Tyrone Scorers E McAliskey 2-3 C Rafferty 1-0 S McDonald 0-2 E Fitzgerald 0-1 L O’Neill 0-1